SCOTLAND

Economy

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had with Ministers of the Scottish Government on Scotland's future economic prospects.

Michael Moore: I regularly meet with Scottish Government Ministers at events, such as the Scottish employability forum last week, where we discuss economic issues.
	This Government recognise the challenges faced by families and businesses, and is focusing on moving the economy from rescue to recovery.

State Pension

Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate his Department has made of the proportion of people in Scotland in receipt of the state pension compared to the rest of the UK.

David Mundell: As of June 2013 pensioners make up 19.9% of the population in Scotland compared to 19.4% In the rest of the UK.
	By 2050 this gap will have increased over four-fold with Scotland’s pensioners making up 23.6% of its population compared with 21.4% In the rest of the UK.

Businesses: UK Benefits

John Stevenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment his Department has made of the value to businesses in Scotland of being part of the UK.

Michael Moore: All papers in the Scotland analysis programme underline the value to business of Scotland being part of the UK. Our fourth paper, published in July, set out the benefits to business of being part of the UK’s domestic single market, and the shared framework which underpins this.

Businesses: UK Benefits

Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment his Department has made of the value to businesses in Scotland of being part of the UK.

Michael Moore: All papers in the Scotland analysis programme underline the value to business of Scotland of being part of the UK. Our fourth paper, published in July, set out the benefits to business of being part of the UK’s domestic single market, and the shared framework which underpins this.

Average Wages

Gemma Doyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what change there has been in the level of average wages in Scotland since May 2010.

David Mundell: According to official statistics, in 2012 the median gross annual full time earnings in Scotland was £25,792, up from £25,205 in 2010.

Departmental Cost Savings

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what amount of administrative cost savings was made by his Department in 2012-13; and what amount of savings are planned to be made in 2013-14.

David Mundell: The Scotland Office and Office of the Advocate General had an administrative cost underspend of £220,000 in 2012-13. During 2013-14 the offices have reduced travel costs and the costs of running office accommodation in Edinburgh and London and we also expect to show an underspend at year end.

WALES

Staff

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many posts in his Department have been relocated from London to each other region in each of the last 10 years.

Stephen Crabb: The Wales Office has one office in London and one in Cardiff. When recruiting, we consider whether we have a preferred location for the post being advertised. In many cases a post may be based in either of our offices, and many staff work from both sites.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Staff

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many posts in her Department have been relocated from London to each other region in each of the last 10 years.

Theresa Villiers: Following the devolution of policing and justice functions on 12 April 2010, and subsequent reconfiguration of the Northern Ireland Office, my Department does not hold figures for the periods prior to 2010; attempting to obtain them would incur disproportionate cost.
	No posts have been relocated from London to other regions since 2010.

TRANSPORT

Staff

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many posts in his Department have been relocated from London to each other region in each of the last 10 years.

Norman Baker: The Department does not maintain a central record of the posts which have moved outside of London. The information requested can only be provided at disproportionate cost.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

Police Cautions

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General how many conditional cautions have been issued by police forces in England and Wales since 2013; and for what offence each such caution was issued.

Oliver Heald: The following Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) data show the total number of conditional cautions that were issued following consideration by the CPS during the period from 1 April 2013 to 6 September 2013 for each police force area. Further tables containing a detailed breakdown of data by offence category have been placed in the Library of the House. The data updates a previous response provided on 21 May 2013 that gave details of the number of conditional cautions issued for the last five years covering the period to 31 March 2013.
	The data showing the number of conditional cautions issued is taken from defendant based data and not the number of offences committed. The total number of cautions issued will therefore differ from that noted in the breakdown of offence category.
	Since 8 April 2013, the police have been able to issue a conditional caution without reference to the CPS in all categories of offences except for indictable only offences and those categorised as hate crime or domestic violence.
	As a result of these revised arrangements, data for conditional cautions issued after 8 April by the police will be reported under the official statistics relating to crime and policing, maintained by the Home Office and the official statistics relating to sentencing, criminal court proceedings, offenders brought to justice, the courts and the judiciary issued by the Ministry of Justice.
	The CPS data will only record those cases where following a request for Charging advice, the CPS determined that the case was more suitable to be dealt with by way of a conditional caution and where the police have charged a suspect but a prosecutor on review following charge determines that it is more appropriate to proceed by way of a conditional caution.
	
		
			 CPS conditional cautions 1 April 2013 to 6 September 2013 
			  Conditional cautions 
			  Pre-charge Post-charge 
			 Total 290 328 
			 Avon and Somerset 3 17 
			 Bedfordshire 7 6 
			 Cambridgeshire 4 11 
			 Cheshire 6 1 
			 Cleveland 3 9 
			 Cumbria 3 1 
			 Derbyshire 3 1 
			 Devon and Cornwall 8 6 
			 Dorset 5 0 
			 Durham 0 1 
			 Dyfed Powys 1 3 
			 Essex 10 7 
		
	
	
		
			 Gloucestershire 3 5 
			 Greater Manchester 4 14 
			 Gwent 1 3 
			 Hampshire and IOW 73 9 
			 Hertfordshire 3 4 
			 Humberside 6 12 
			 Kent 10 13 
			 Lancashire 14 8 
			 Leicestershire 4 7 
			 Lincolnshire 1 5 
			 London 18 35 
			 Merseyside 14 47 
			 Norfolk 4 16 
			 Northamptonshire 2 6 
			 Northumbria 3 6 
			 North W ales 17 5 
			 North Yorkshire 6 6 
			 Nottinghamshire 3 5 
			 South Wales 11 9 
			 South Yorkshire 1 5 
			 Staffordshire 5 3 
			 Suffolk 1 3 
			 Surrey 5 2 
			 Sussex 1 3 
			 Thames Valley 14 11 
			 Warwickshire 0 1 
			 West Mercia 1 6 
			 West Midlands 5 2 
			 West Yorkshire 6 12 
			 Wiltshire 1 2

Redundancy Pay

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General how much the Crown Prosecution Service has spent on severance costs for departing members of staff in each year since 2010-11.

Oliver Heald: The amount the Crown Prosecution Service has spent on severance costs for departing staff in each year since 2010-11 is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Severance costs (£ million) 
			 2010-11 8.74 
			 2011-12 20.71 
			 2012-13 20.92 
			 2013-14(1) 3.76 
			 (1) 2013-14 costs as of 5 September 2013 are provisional

Redundancy Pay

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General how much the Government legal service has spent on severance costs for departing members of staff in each year since 2010-11.

Oliver Heald: The Government Legal Service (GLS) is not a Government department and does not employ anyone. The GLS is the term used to describe approximately 2,000 employees in the legal teams of 30 Departments of State, regulatory bodies and other Government organisations, who are each separately responsible for any costs incurred.

Serious Fraud Office

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General if he will publish the review carried out by Peter Mason CBE into how documents related to the BAE Systems case were sent by the Serious Fraud Office to the wrong location.

Oliver Heald: Once Mr Mason's review is formally concluded, the Director of the Serious Fraud Office will consider publishing the findings.

Serious Fraud Office

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General what the cost to the Serious Fraud Office was of recovering the evidence related to the BAE Systems case sent to the wrong location.

Oliver Heald: The costs of recovering the material are not recorded separately to the costs of investigating what happened; the cost recorded to 30 August 2013 for both is £10,835. This includes costs for the work carried out to date by Peter Mason in reviewing independently what happened.

Serious Fraud Office

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General whether details of the identities of any prosecution witnesses and informants were contained in the evidence related to the BAE Systems case that the Serious Fraud Office sent to the wrong location.

Oliver Heald: I understand that the identities of some prosecution witnesses were included within the material that was sent in error. It is the Serious Fraud Office's policy neither to confirm nor deny the existence of informants on any of its cases.

Witnesses: Children

Ann Coffey: To ask the Attorney-General what information he holds on complaints made about developmentally inappropriate questioning of child witnesses in the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Oliver Heald: The Crown Prosecution Service currently categorises complaints on the following basis: legal decision making, mixed (legal and non-legal decision making) and non-legal decision making. This does not enable it to separately identify complaints made about the developmentally inappropriate questioning of child witnesses.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Recall of Parliament

Thomas Docherty: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, what estimate he has made of the cost to the House service of the recall of the House on 29 August 2013; and what estimate he has made of the amount of revenue foregone by (a) visitor services, (b) the Jubilee Cafe, (c) other catering services and (d) other services due to that recall.

John Thurso: The cost to the House of Commons Service of recalling Parliament for a day is marginal as most operating costs are fixed for the year as a whole and are unaffected by the number and distribution of sitting days. The additional cost is about £24,000.
	For 29 August the ticket and retail sales associated with visitor services reduced by around £16,500. Although Jubilee Cafe income was reduced by £2,100 there was an overall net increase of income on catering services of £3,000.
	The total cost of the recall was therefore some £37,500.

DEFENCE

Carbon Emissions

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the approximate annual cost to his Department of steps to meet its Greening Government targets by March 2015.

Andrew Murrison: The Ministry of Defence has invested £54.2 million in energy saving measures to date. A further £55 million is programmed to be invested by March 2015.
	Information on the cost of implementing the waste and water saving targets is not held.

Armed Forces

Russell Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what financial support is currently offered to service personnel who leave the (a) Royal Navy, (b) Royal Air Force and (c) British Army; and what the total cost of that support has been in the last three years.

Mark Francois: There are many types of financial support available to service personnel who leave the armed forces but this depends on the reason for their departure. As an example, financial support may be payable from the Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS), the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) or the War Disablement Pension. In addition there are a variety of grants (eg Resettlement Grant). All of these operate on a tri-service basis. The total expenditure on the AFPS and AFCS for each of the last three financial years is available at the following link:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/armed-forces-pension-scheme-annual-accounts-2012-13

Armed Forces

Russell Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) number and (b) proportion of current armed service personnel in the (i) Royal Navy, (ii) Royal Air Force and (iii) British Army who have progressed to the rank of officer, having been recruited into the lowest rank of each service is.

Andrew Robathan: The current number of officers who have been commissioned from the ranks in the naval service and Army are as set out in the following table:
	
		
			 Service As at Number commissioned from the ranks Proportion of officer corps (%) 
			 Naval service 1 April 2013 840 14 
			 Army 1 July 2013 2,610 20 
		
	
	Information on the number of currently serving RAF officers, who have previously served in the other ranks (OR) could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, since April 2010 some 40 OR have been commissioned each year, and this represents 0.14% of the annual opening OR total.
	All numbers are rounded to the nearest 10; numbers ending in five have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent systematic bias.

Armed Forces

Russell Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the number of (a) regular and (b) reserve forces who will leave the UK armed forces following possible changes to Scotland's constitutional status after 2014; and what the size of each branch of the armed forces will be in that event.

Andrew Murrison: The UK Government is not planning for Scottish independence and cannot pre-negotiate the details of independence ahead of the referendum. We are confident that the people of Scotland will continue to support remaining within the UK.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether existing test and diagnostic equipment will be used in the Warrior CSP upgrade programme.

Philip Dunne: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister for the Armed Forces, my right hon. Friend the Member for South Leicestershire (Mr Robathan), on 16 July 2013, Official Report, column 649W.

Children: Maintenance

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effects of overseas postings on the parenting responsibilities and liabilities for Child Support Agency payments of absent parents in the armed forces.

Andrew Murrison: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to facilitate the direct deduction of child maintenance payments from pay of non-resident parents who are service personnel.
	Where a parent asks the Child Support Agency (CSA) to help to obtain appropriate child support from a non-resident parent who is a service person, the MOD will assist the CSA in engaging with that service person. The MOD will implement any deduction from earnings request submitted by the CSA.
	The only exception is when the service person is in an operational zone. Under the terms of the MOU, if a service person is committed to operations the commanding officer may delay any engagement with the CSA until such time as the non-resident parent is in a position to consider any papers that the CSA may send them and respond appropriately.

Conditions of Employment

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff (a) directly employed and (b) indirectly employed through other companies by his Department were employed on zero-hours contracts in each of the last 10 years.

Andrew Murrison: The Ministry of Defence does not employ people on zero hours contracts. The terms of employment for individuals indirectly employed through other companies are a matter between the individual and their parent company.

Military Exercises

James Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what days and at which locations the October 2013 Exercise Joint Warrior is expected to take place; which nations are expected to take part in that exercise; what overseas visitors are currently expected to observe the exercise and on which days; and if he will make a statement.

Philip Hammond: holding answer 9 September 2013
	Joint Warrior 13-2 will take place from 6-17 October 2013 in the seas around the east and west coast of Scotland from the Firth of Forth to Clyde approaches; on the Defence training estate of Tain, Spadeadam and Cape Wrath; and in the air space of northern England and Scotland. The nations participating are the UK, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Norway and USA.
	A visiting delegation of senior naval officers from Denmark is expected to visit on 7-8 October 2013.
	Separately, the Combined Joint Expeditionary Force concept is being exercised at RAF Leeming, with a delegation of senior air force officers from France planned to visit on 15-16 October 2013.

Public Expenditure

Russell Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what savings, in each category of expenditure, his Department has made since May 2010; and what savings are forecast over the next five years.

Philip Hammond: holding answer 10 September 2013
	As a result of the changes to policy and financial plans announced in and around the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review, the Department implemented savings of £74 billion over its 10-year programme, as presented in the following table:
	
		
			  £ billion 
			 Equipment and equipment support 36.8 
			 Reductions in front line military personnel 8.8 
			 Non front line reductions (including civilian personnel) 14.6 
			 Sales receipts 1.4 
		
	
	
		
			 Other running costs and changes in assumptions 12.0 
			   
			 Total savings 73.6 
		
	
	During the 2013 spending round, the Ministry of Defence committed to £875 million of further operating costs efficiency savings in 2015-16. These savings will be delivered from contract renegotiations, the centralised procurement of common goods and services, pay restraint, and reductions in the cost of the Department's civilian headcount and allowances.

Reserve Forces: Recruitment

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been spent on recruitment campaigns for the Reserve Force in (a) 2011, (b) 2012 and (c) 2013 to date.

Mark Francois: The spend figures requested on recruitment campaigns for the Reserve Forces are set out in the following table:
	
		
			 Financial year (FY) Total spend (£ million) 
			 2011-12 2.86 
			 2012-13 7.98 
			 2013-14 to date 5.1 
		
	
	We are committed to growing the Army Reserve. In July, we set our new offer to potential Reservists and employers with increased incentives and enhanced training opportunities alongside Regulars in the UK and abroad. The way is now clear for a sustained recruitment campaign over the next 12 to 18 months, to build the numbers we need to expand the Army Reserve. Expenditure for FY 2013-14 is therefore likely to be greater than last year as we embark on that campaign, to meet the target set in Future Reserves 2020.

Trident

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the Prime Minister's oral answer of 4 September 2013, on Trident, if he will make an estimate of the additional cost to his Department of bringing forward the main gate decision on the successor submarines to before May 2015.

Philip Hammond: As my hon. Friend will be aware, major investment decisions are made when programmes are sufficiently mature in terms of design and cost estimates. For the successor submarine we expect this point, the Main Gate decision point, to be in 2016. Making investment decisions and placing contracts when projects are not sufficiently mature is likely to lead to cost growth and time delays. However, it is not possible, for any individual project, to estimate with any degree of accuracy what those costs and delays might be, precisely because the programme is not yet sufficiently mature.

TREASURY

Children: Day Care

Kate Green: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the savings to the public purse if the new tax-free childcare scheme was restricted to parents earning less than (a) £100,000, (b) £90,000, (c) £80,000, (d) £75,000, (e) £70,000, (f) £65,000 and (g) £60,000 per annum;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the savings to the public purse if the new tax-free childcare scheme was restricted to providing support for up to two children only.

Sajid Javid: The estimates requested are not available.
	Information on Exchequer costs of the new scheme for tax-free child care and numbers of families affected will not be available until the consultation launched on 5 August is complete and the policy details have been fully defined.

Non-domestic Rates

Bob Russell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to remove business rates from former public toilets which are no longer in use.

David Gauke: The Government has no plans to remove business rates from former public toilets which are no longer in use. Any new business rates relief would heed to be balanced against the targeted support that is already provided on business rates, such as the temporary doubling of the small business rate relief, and the overriding need to reduce the deficit.

Oil: Prices

Matthew Offord: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment his Department has made of the effect of the conflict in Syria on the price of oil.

Michael Fallon: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department of Energy and Climate Change.
	The Department has made no formal assessment. The price of oil is determined by supply and demand factors. Oil prices have been pushed up over the last two months by supply side concerns from Libya, Egypt and Syria, increasing from $103 per barrel in July to around $115 by the end of August. There have also been more marginal demand side influences, driven by variable news on international economic growth rates.

Revenue and Customs

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much HM Revenue and Customs (a) has spent under each cost heading in each year since 2010-11 and (b) expects to spend under each cost heading in each year between 2013-14 and 2015-16.

David Gauke: The information is as follows:
	(a) The costs HMRC incurs are shown in the notes to the departmental resource accounts within HMRC's annual report and accounts.
	Links to the accounts are provided as follows:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/about/annual-report-accounts-1011.pdf
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/about/annual-report-accounts-1112.pdf
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/annual-report-and-accounts-2012-13--3
	(b) HMRC is currently reviewing its plans for 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16 as part of its current planning round. It is not possible therefore to breakdown in a more granular form the budgets for 2014-15 and 2015-16.
	HMRC's budgets for 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16 are:
	
		
			  £ million 
			 2013-14 3,471 
			 2014-15 3,244 
			 2015-16 3,136 
			 Note: These figures exclude depreciation and capital. 
		
	
	Broadly HMRC expects the staffing costs to reduce and the IT costs to increase, in line with its digital programme, within its overall reductions.

Revenue and Customs

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of its resources HM Revenue and Customs expects to spend under each cost heading in each year from 2013-14 to 2015-16.

David Gauke: In 2013-14 and 2014-15 HMRC expects to spend its resources as per the information published on page 37 of its business plan for 2012 to 2015. A link to the business plan is provided here:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/about/business-plan-2012.pdf
	HMRC is still working on the implications for 201516 following recent announcements.

Staff

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of his Department's jobs have been relocated from London to each region of the UK in each of the last 10 years.

Sajid Javid: Following the 2004 Lyons review, which raised the issue of moving civil servants from London and the south-east, the Treasury Group (then consisting of HM Treasury, the Office of Government Commerce, OGCbuying.solutions and the Debt Management Office) committed to relocate 26.5 full-time equivalent posts by March 2008 as part of the 2004 spending review. This number was achieved by March 2007 and was followed by moving another 11.5 full-time equivalent posts in 2007-08.

Tax Allowances: Veterans

Bob Russell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy that payments from the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme and guaranteed income payments should be exempt from tax.

David Gauke: In recognition of the vital role played by the armed forces and their families, many payments under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme, in particular those to service personnel or veterans, are already exempt from any liability to income tax. The Government has no plans to change this policy.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Cats: Animal Welfare

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make it his policy that local authorities should be required to implement cat care policies to prevent the abandonment of cats in urban areas; and if he will make a statement.

David Heath: It is for local authorities to decide how to prioritise resources relative to the needs of their communities. Owners should consider whether they can take on the responsibility of keeping an animal before acquiring it. If there are circumstances that arise which mean they can no longer look after their pet, they should approach a re-homing centre. Abandonment of an animal in circumstances that are likely to compromise its welfare is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and carries a maximum penalty of six months' imprisonment or a fine of £5,000, or both.

Fisheries: Western Sahara

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assurances he has received as to the benefit to the Saharawi population of the new protocol to the EU-Morocco Fisheries Partnership Agreement.

Richard Benyon: The new protocol to the fisheries partnership agreement between the European Union and the Kingdom of Morocco has not yet been agreed by the Council and the European Parliament.
	The agreement as initialled requires Morocco to report on the geographical distribution of European funds for structural support and infrastructure to include the impact on jobs and investment.

Ragwort

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department is planning to take to improve the management of ragwort.

David Heath: holding answer 10 September 2013
	Responsibility for ragwort control rests with land owners and occupiers, who are expected to adhere to Ragwort Code of Practice (2003). Where the code has not been adhered to, Natural England will investigate complaints and take any appropriate enforcement action. My ministerial colleague, the Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Newbury (Richard Benyon), wrote to over 500 public bodies in February this year reminding them of their responsibilities under the code.
	DEFRA is currently working with interested parties to establish what more can be done to encourage ragwort control; this includes improving the current evidence base, as well as considering various options for streamlining the complaint process.

HEALTH

Carbon Monoxide: Poisoning

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what support his Department plans to provide to the charity, Carbon Monoxide Awareness during National Carbon Monoxide Awareness week in November 2013.

Anna Soubry: The Department has no specific plans to provide support to the charity Carbon Monoxide Awareness during Carbon Monoxide Awareness week.
	Public Health England (PHE) publishes an annual press release to coincide with Carbon Monoxide (CO) Awareness Week advising people to have their fossil fuel and wood burning appliances such as cookers, heaters and boilers checked by an appropriate registered engineer before winter. PHE is working with the Department on a Chief Medical Officer letter to remind health care professionals of the signs and symptoms of CO poisoning. PHE is also updating its flowchart to assist general practitioners and emergency physicians in diagnosing CO poisoning which will accompany this letter.
	PHE and the Department will provide input into the Cross Government Group on Gas Safety Report which is released in November. This report details the work of its members to reduce deaths and injuries from accidental poisoning from CO.

Carbon Monoxide: Poisoning

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what support is made available by the NHS to people experiencing long-term chronic health problems as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Anna Soubry: It is recognised that between 10% and 15% of people who have severe carbon monoxide poisoning develop long-term complications such as damage to the brain or heart.
	The national health service has prioritised improving outcomes for people and there is a focus on people with long-term conditions. To support this a National Clinical Director for neurological conditions has been appointed and is already working with the newly established strategic clinical networks to support improving the quality of care commissioned by NHS England and clinical commissioning groups. The commissioners will be working closely with local authorities, especially social care.
	This will help to ensure that services are:
	Quicker and easier to use;
	More closely matched to people's needs;
	Better co-ordinated so that people do not have to see a lot of different professionals and repeat the same information about themselves;
	Provided for as long as people need them, so that treatment continues without the need for a referral every time the person has a new problem;
	Better at helping people with neurological conditions and their carers to make decisions about care and treatment;
	Provided by people with knowledge and experience of specific conditions;
	Giving people with long-term neurological conditions better results from their treatment;
	Planned around the views of people with long-term neurological conditions and their carers;
	Able to give people more choice about how and where they get treatment and care; and
	Better at helping people to live more independently.

Hospital Corporation of America

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  when his Department signed a contract for the provision of gamma knife services with the Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) at St Bartholomew's Hospital; who authorised the signing of the contract; and how many patients HCA are contracted to treat each year;
	(2)  how many service provision contracts (a) NHS England and (b) his Department prior to 1 April 2013 had with the Hospital Corporation of America; at which hospitals; and what services the contracts covered.

Daniel Poulter: Information concerning existing contracts to provide gamma knife stereotactic radiosurgery has been provided by NHS England. NHS England commissions the gamma knife service from Barts and the London NHS Trust through a sub-contract with Health Corporation of America (HCA) at the Harley Street Clinic. It is a cost and volume contract. The contract was signed in 2003 and as a sub-contract was approved by Barts and the London NHS Trust.
	The Department does not hold any contracts with the Hospital Corporation of America and its United Kingdom subsidiary for the period up to and including 1 April 2013. NHS England did not exist prior to 1 April 2013.

School Milk

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will publish by the end of 2013 a full response to the consultation on the Nursery Milk Scheme that ended in October 2012.

Daniel Poulter: The Department is conducting a comprehensive analysis of all the responses to the Nursery Milk consultation, the impact assessment and the accompanying survey of child care providers. A Government response on the future operation of the Nursery Milk Scheme will be made after full consideration is given to these and other relevant information.

Warm Homes Healthy People Fund

Sarah Newton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  whether his Department will be running a Warm Homes, Healthy People programme for the winter of 2013-14;
	(2)  when bids will be invited for the Warm Homes Healthy People Fund in 2013-14.

Anna Soubry: The Warm Homes Healthy People fund will not be repeated this year. However, ring-fenced funding of £5.45 billion for 2013-15 has been made available to local authorities to address public health priorities determined at the local level. In setting their priorities local authorities must take into account the Public Health Outcomes Framework which has excess winter deaths as an indicator.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Asylum: Finance

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people are in receipt of (a) section 95 support for asylum applicants and (b) section 4 support for a failed asylum applicant who cannot return home.

Mark Harper: holding answer 9 September 2013
	As at end of June 2013, there were 21,423 asylum seekers, including dependants, in receipt of Section 95 and 4,472 in receipt of Section 4 support for failed asylum applicants who cannot return home.
	The data presented above, are published in table as16q and table as18q (Asylum data tables Volume 2) of Immigration Statistics: April—June 2013, available at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/home-office/series/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release
	and the Library of the House.

Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the resources available to the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre to combat child abuse online.

Damian Green: The work of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) in tackling the proliferation of indecent images of children is of utmost importance. That is why we have protected the budget of CEOP compared to budget reductions which have been made elsewhere in law enforcement. CEOP has over 50% more staff now (133 as of 30 August 2013) than it did in November 2010 (85).
	As a fully integrated command within the National Crime Agency (NCA), CEOP will be able to do more to protect children. The CEOP command will have a clear remit and be headed by a director, accountable to the NCA director general.
	This means that the director of CEOP will have the freedom to direct the specialist resources within their command to reduce the threat or risk of harm to a child.
	Being part of the NCA will bring advantages to CEOP, including access to more capacity to deal with complex cases of child sexual exploitation and sexual abuse and more resilience for frontline operational services. CEOP will also be able to draw on support from other NCA specialist functions, such as the agency's enhanced intelligence capability, the National Cyber Crime Unit, and the Border Policing Command (including the international network) as well as greater influence through the NCA's national leadership role across law enforcement.

Crimes of Violence

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many alleged instances of grievous bodily harm were reported to police forces in England and Wales in each year since 2009; and how many such allegations were classified as no crimes.

Jeremy Browne: holding answer 9 September 2013
	Information on the number of alleged incidents is not available centrally. The available information relates to offences initially recorded by the police and subsequently "no crimed" and the available information is given in the table.
	Data for 2012-13 are not comparable with earlier years as grievous bodily harm (GBH) offences were moved into new offence classifications as part of the ONS classification changes. Data provided show the number of crimes recorded by the police for GBH both with and without intent up to 2012-13 and then the broader categories of ‘assault with injury’ and ‘assault with intent to cause serious harm’ which GBH with and without intent now fall into.
	
		
			 Number of GBH/assault with intent to cause serious harm offences initially recorded as crimes and subsequently no-crimed, 2009-10 to 2012-13—England and Wales 
			 Number 
			  Offences initially recorded by the police as crimes Offences deemed to be ‘no crimes’ 
			    
			 GBH(1)   
			 2009-10 41,023 1,522 
			 2010-11 36,146 1,357 
			 2011-12 33,415 1,060 
			    
			 Assault with intent to cause serious harm(2)   
			 2012-13 17,473 467 
			    
			 Assault with injury(2)   
			 2012-13 298,966 8,007 
			 (1) Offences of GBH with and without intent. (2) With effect from 2012-13, GBH with intent was moved into a new classification of ‘Assault with intent to cause serious harm’. Also with effect from 2012-13, GBH without intent was moved into a new offence classification of ‘Assault with injury’ and such offences cannot be separately identified from other offences recorded in that classification. Source: Police recorded crime, Home Office

Detention Centres

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she plans to expand the immigration detention estate.

Mark Harper: holding answer 6 September 2013
	The capacity and location of the detention estate is under constant review and we consider any opportunities to rebalance it in order to aid removal of those who have no right to remain in the UK. The conversion of HMP The Verne in Dorset into an Immigration Removal Centre, which will add 580 beds was announced by the Ministry of Justice on 4 September 2013.

Entry Clearances

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Tier 1 Entrepreneur visas have been granted since 31 January 2013; and how many decisions on such visas are awaiting determination.

Mark Harper: According to latest published statistics there were 568 visas issued to main applicants who applied under the Tier 1—Entrepreneur route in the first two quarters of 2013. Latest published statistics for applications for visas and the outcome of applications for Tier 1—Entrepreneur visas (main applicants and dependants) for the first two quarters of 2013 appear in the following table:
	
		
			 Entry clearance visa applications and resolution by category PBS Tier 1—Entrepreneur, 2013 
			   Of which: 
			  Applications Resolved Issued Refused Percentage refused Lapsed 
			 January-March (Q1), 2013       
			 Main applicants 617 602 305 293 49 4 
			 Dependants 575 598 394 204 34 0 
			        
			 April-June (Q2), 2013       
			 Main applicants 649 673 263 405 60 5 
			 Dependants 672 688 409 273 40 6 
			 Notes: 1. Some decisions may relate to applications received in previous quarters. 2. Data are provisional. Source: Immigration Statistics, April to June 2013, Table be_01_q 
		
	
	It is not possible to provide figures only from 31 January 2013 for those issued visas under the Tier 1—Entrepreneur route from these published statistics.
	The number of applications for entry clearance visas awaiting a decision are not available from these published statistics.
	The latest Home Office immigration statistics on entry clearance visas are published in the release Immigration Statistics April to June-2013, which is available from the Library of the House and on the Department's website at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/home-office/series/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release

Entry Clearances

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many graduates from UK universities have been issued Tier 5 (Government Authorised Exchange) visas since 6 April 2012.

Mark Harper: holding answer 9 September 2013
	The published statistics on out of country visas to the United Kingdom issued and in country extensions of stay granted to main applicants in the Tier 5 (Government Authorised Exchange) category are provided in the following table:
	
		
			 Out of country visas to the United Kingdom issued and in-country extensions of stay granted: Tier 5 (Government Authorised Exchange) 
			 Quarter Out of country visas issued In-country grants of extensions 
			 2012 Q3 1,295 68 
			 2012 Q4 688 144 
			 2013 Q1 787 40 
			 2013 Q2 1,926 79 
			 Notes: 1. Excludes dependants. 2. Data are provisional. 3. Entry clearance visas issued and grants of an extension of stay should not be summed. Individuals could be counted in both entry clearance visas issued and grants of an extension of stay if the issue and grant occurs within the same year. Source: Immigration Statistics, April to June 2013, table be_01_q and table ex_01_q 
		
	
	It is not possible to determine how many of these main applicants graduated from UK universities without examination of individual case records at disproportionate cost.
	Information published in the short statistical article ‘Extensions of stay by previous category’ show that in 2012 there were 129 grants of an extension to main applicants in Tier 5 (Government Authorised Exchange) whose previous category was study.
	The latest Home Office immigration statistics on entry clearance visas and extensions of stay are published in the release Immigration Statistics April to June to 2013, which is available from the Library of the House and on the Department's website at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/home-office/series/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release
	A copy of the short statistical article ‘Extensions of stay by previous category’ is available from the Library of the House and at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/extensions-of-stay-by-previous-category

Entry Clearances

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) visas have been issued since their introduction in April 2012.

Mark Harper: holding answer 9 September 2013
	The published statistics on out of country visas to the United Kingdom issued and in country extensions of stay granted to main applicants in the Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) category are provided in the following table:
	
		
			 Out of country visas to the United Kingdom issued and in-country extensions of stay granted to Tier 1—Graduate Entrepreneurs 
			 Quarter Out of country visas issued In-country grants of extensions 
			 2012 Q3 0 0 
			 2012 Q4 0 27 
			 2013 Q1 0 66 
			 2013 Q2 0 36 
			 Notes: 1. Excludes dependants. 2. Data are provisional. Source: Immigration Statistics, April to June 2013. table be_01_q and table ex_01_q 
		
	
	The latest Home Office immigration statistics on entry clearance visas and extensions of stay are published in the release Immigration Statistics April to June 2013, which is available from the Library of the House and on the Department's website at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/home-office/series/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release

Entry Clearances

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many graduates of UK universities have been issued Tier 2 visas since 6 April 2012.

Mark Harper: holding answer 9 September 2013
	The published statistics on out of country visas to the United Kingdom issued and in country extensions of stay granted to main applicants in the Tier 2 and the equivalent pre Points Based System categories are provided in the following table:
	
		
			 Out of country visas to the United Kingdom issued and in-country extensions of stay granted: Tier 2 and pre-PBS equivalent 
			 Quarter Out of country visas issued In-country grants of extensions 
			 2012 Q3 11,065 8,439 
			 2012 Q4 8,682 8,733 
			 2013 Q1 10,402 7,968 
			 2013 Q2 11,536 10,377 
			 Notes: 1. Excludes dependants. 2. Data are provisional. 3. Entry clearance visas issued and grants of an extension of stay should not be summed. Individuals could be counted in both entry clearance visas issued and grants of an extension of stay if the issue and grant occurs within the same year. 4. In-country extensions include initial and further extensions. 5. PBS = Points Based System Source: Immigration Statistics, April-June 2013, table be_01_q and table ex_01_q 
		
	
	It is not possible to determine how many of these main applicants graduated from UK universities without examination of individual case records at disproportionate cost.
	Information published in the short statistical article “Extensions of stay by previous category” show that in 2012, there were 2,614 grants of an extension to main applicants in Tier 2o whose previous category was study.
	The latest Home Office immigration statistics on entry clearance visas and extensions of stay are published in the release Immigration Statistics April to June 2013, which is available from the Library of the House and on the Department's website at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/home-office/series/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release
	A copy of the short statistical article “Extensions of stay by previous category” is available at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/extensions-of-stay-by-previous-category
	and will be placed in the Library of the House.

Entry Clearances: Syria

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what additional resources are being made available to the British Embassy in Lebanon to ensure the swift processing of visas for Syrian nationals wishing to come to the UK on spouse visas.

Mark Harper: holding answer 6 September 2013
	The extra Syrian spouse applications considered in Beirut as a result of the closure of the Visa Application Centre (VAC) in Damascus are a very small addition to the overall workload of Beirut, and we have not needed to send any additional staff resource to Beirut to deal with them.
	The current customer service targets overseas for settlement applications (spouse applications are considered under this service standard) are to process 95% of settlement applications within 12 weeks of the application date and 100% within 24 weeks of the application date. In June 2013, 95% of settlement visa applications made at the VAC in Beirut (Lebanon) were processed within 12 weeks.

Female Genital Mutilation

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what funding the Government has allocated to tackling the practice of female genital mutilation at home and abroad.

Jeremy Browne: The Government are absolutely committed to preventing and tackling female genital mutilation (FGM). The Home Office announced on 18 July 2013 that it will provide £15,971 of funding towards a new prevalence study, to be carried out by Equality now and City University.
	Other funding which the Government have allocated to tackling FGM on domestic and international initiatives since 2011 is as follows:
	Home Office—£100,000 fund over two years to provide grants of between £2000 and £5000 to frontline organisations supporting work to strengthen the voice of women to speak about FGM and work to abandon the practices; and,
	Department for International Development—£35million programme to address FGM, in Africa and beyond. The aim of the programme is to see a reduction in cutting by 30% in at least 10 countries over five years.

Female Genital Mutilation

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  in how many cases asylum was granted on the grounds of the risk of female genital mutilation in each year since 2010;
	(2)  in how many cases asylum was applied for on the basis of the risk of female genital mutilation but subsequently rejected since 2010.

Mark Harper: holding answer 10 September 2013
	The Home Office does not routinely record, on its Case Information Database, information about the grounds on which asylum is claimed. The information requested could be obtained only by a manual search of the files of all asylum claims from women since 2010 and this could be achieved only at a disproportionate cost.

Female Genital Mutilation

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what training is given to police officers on tackling and prosecuting instances of female genital mutilation.

Jeremy Browne: Police guidance and training on investigating domestic abuse already includes dealing with cases of female genital mutilation (FGM). Our cross-Government Action Plan, published in March 2013, sets out our clear commitment to work on further guidance and learning programmes for the police on sexual and domestic violence, including FGM, forced marriage, 'honour' based violence (HBV) and stalking.
	The Government has also recently reviewed its Multi-Agency Practice Guidelines on FGM, originally published in February 2011, for front-line professionals such as teachers, GPs, nurses and police. The guidelines aim to raise awareness of FGM, highlight the risks that people should be aware of and set out clearly the steps that should be taken to safeguard children and women from this abuse. They are a key development in preventing girls from being harmed by FGM.

Female Genital Mutilation

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her policy is on granting asylum to women and girls at risk of female genital mutilation.

Mark Harper: An individual who claims that she would, on return to her home country, suffer female genital mutilation may qualify for refugee status if she is able to demonstrate that she has a well-founded fear. This may include evidence that female genital mutilation is knowingly tolerated by the authorities or that the authorities are unable or unwilling to offer effective protection.
	Asylum decision-makers examine claims for international protection sensitively and ensure that all evidence relating to an individual's claim is taken into account. Specific guidance and training regarding gender- specific issues, including the risk of female genital mutilation, has been issued to decision-makers.

Immigrants: Detainees

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people held in immigration detention had been held for more than (a) 18 months, (b) 24 months and (c) 36 months on 1 September 2013.

Mark Harper: holding answer 9 September 2013
	The requested information is not available. Figures on people held in detention are collated as at the last day of each quarter, on 31 March, 30 June, 30 September and 31 December of each year and published in Immigration Statistics quarterly releases. The latest figures show that as at 30 June 2013, 27 people were detained for between 18 months and 24 months, 11 for between 24 months and 36 months and one for between 36 months and 48 months.
	Data on the length of detention of people in detention are readily available in the latest release, Immigration Statistics: April-June 2013, table dt_09_q from the GOV.UK website:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/home-office/series/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release
	Figures as at the 30 September 2013 will be published in Immigration Statistics July-September 2013 on 28 November 2013.
	Published figures on people held in immigration detention are those detained in the United Kingdom solely under Immigration Act powers at short term holding facilities, pre departure accommodation and immigration removal centres.
	Figures exclude those held in police cells, Prison Service establishments, short term holding rooms at ports and airports (for less than 24 hours), and those recorded as detained under both criminal and immigration powers and their dependants.

Immigration: Stratford

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether her Department's recent decision to allocate resources to immigration status checks in Stratford resulted in delay in processing casework in other areas of her Department's work.

Mark Harper: This Operation did not require casework resources. As a result, there was no impact on processing casework in other areas of the Department's work.

Members: Correspondence

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects a reply to be sent to the letter from the hon. Member for Slough of 14 February 2013 on the Employers Checking Service.

Mark Harper: holding answer 18 July 2013
	I wrote to the hon. Member on 20 August 2013.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she intends to reply to the letter to the Minister for Immigration, dated 22 July 2013, from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regards to Dr M. Kiche.

Mark Harper: I wrote to the right hon. Member on 5 September 2013.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she intends to reply to the letter to her, dated 22 July 2013, from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regards to Mr G. A. Rubbani.

Mark Harper: I wrote to the right hon. Member on 5 September 2013.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she intends to reply to the letter to the Minister of State for Immigration, dated 25 June 2013, from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regards to Mr M. Ali.

Mark Harper: I wrote to the right hon. Member on 4 September 2013.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she intends to reply to the letter to her dated 15 July 2013 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr D O Ogunmulele.

Mark Harper: I wrote to the right hon. Member on 5 September 2013.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she intends to reply to the urgent letter to the Minister for Immigration dated 5 July 2013 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Khwima Msiska.

Mark Harper: I wrote to the right hon. Member on 4 September 2013.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she intends to reply to the letter to the Minister for Immigration dated 25 July 2013 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Ms Simone Small.

Mark Harper: I wrote to the right hon. Member on 5 September 2013.

Members: Correspondence

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when a reply will be sent to letters sent by the hon. Member for Harrow West on 13 May and 16 July 2013 to UK Visas and Immigration regarding Mr Khaldoon Atiyah.

Mark Harper: holding answer 10 September 2013
	UK Visas and Immigration wrote to the hon. Member on 5 September 2013.

Offenders: Deportation

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign national offenders have successfully challenged deportation on human rights grounds in the last 10 years; how many of those challenges were under (a) Article 3, (b) Article 6 and (c) Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights; and how many were on other grounds.

Mark Harper: holding answer 6 September 2013
	Information on what ECHR article an appeal was successfully challenged on is held at the level of coordinated paper case files or within the notes section of the Home Office Case Information Database (CID). Such data is not aggregated in national reporting systems, which would mean this question could be answered only through a disproportionately expensive manual case by case search to collate the data.
	I can, however, refer you to the answer of my noble Friend Lord Judd on 29 August 2013, Official Report,House of Lords, column WA406, which provides figures for how many occasions in 2012 we were prevented from deporting criminals who were not United Kingdom citizens following the completion of their sentences by rulings of the United Kingdom courts citing Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Passports: Lost Property

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much compensation her Department and its agencies paid as a result of losing (a) passports and (b) other travel documents in each of the last five years for which records are available.

Mark Harper: holding answer 6 September 2013
	The Home Office does not record payment data in a format which would allow the question to be answered without incurring disproportionate costs.

Police: Pakistan

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the (a) nature and (b) financial value was of counternarcotics assistance given to the Pakistan government in each of the last six financial years; and what the planned expenditure for each category is in the (i) current and (ii) next financial year.

Jeremy Browne: The UK provides counternarcotics assistance to a range of international partners, including Pakistan. We do so to tackle the international drugs trade and minimise the threat it poses to the UK. It is important to protect activities which form part of the UK's contribution to the international counter-narcotics effort and to respect the principle that international partners are able to operate in secrecy on matters of national security against organised crime. As such, it is our policy not to disclose details of our counter narcotics work, as to do so risks reducing its effectiveness and damaging international relations.

Rape

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many alleged rapes were reported to police forces in England and Wales in each year since 2009; and how many such allegations were subsequently classified as no crimes.

Jeremy Browne: holding answer 9 September 2013
	Information on the number of alleged incidents is not available centrally. The available information relates to offences initially recorded by the police and subsequently “no crimed” and is given in the table.
	
		
			 Table: Number of rape offences initially recorded as crimes and subsequently no-crimed, 2009-10 to 2012-13—England and Wales 
			 Number 
			 Rape Offences initially recorded by the police as crimes Offences deemed to be “no crimes” 
			 2009-10 17,238 2,164 
			 2010-11 18,027 2,135 
			 2011-12 17,979 1,941 
		
	
	
		
			 2012-13 18,061 1,734 
			 Source: Police recorded crime, Home Office

Stop and Search

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were stopped and searched under the Terrorism Act 2000 in each of the last five years.

Damian Green: The requested data are published each year in Home Office statistical releases. For reference, the table shows the number of stops and searches of persons conducted between (a) 2007-08 and 2011-12 under sections 44 and 47A of the Terrorism Act 2000 by police forces in Great Britain, and (b) 2008-09 and 2011-12 under section 43 of the Terrorism Act 2000 by the Metropolitan Police Service.
	Provisional data for 2012-13 are scheduled for publication on 12 September 2013 in the next edition of “Operation of police powers under the Terrorism Act 2000 and subsequent legislation: Arrests, outcomes and stops and searches, Great Britain”, available via:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/home-office/series/counter-terrorism-statistics
	
		
			 Stops and searches of persons(1) under sections 44/47a and 43 of the Terrorism Act: 2007-08 to 2011-12(2) 
			 Numbers 
			  Sections 44/47A(3,4) Section 43(5) 
			 2007-08 188,566 n/a 
			 2008-09 255,680 1,601 
			 2009-10 10 102,504 1,229 
			 2010-11 11 9,744 1,154 
			 2011-12 0 819 
			 n/a = Data not available. (1) Excludes 'vehicle-only' searches. (2) Data for all years may be revised in future editions of “Operation of police powers under the Terrorism Act 2000 and subsequent legislation: Arrests, outcomes and stops and searches”. (3) Includes figures from police forces in England, Wales, Scotland and the British Transport Police. (4) All s44 powers were formally replaced with s47A powers, which have a significantly higher threshold for authorisation than s44 searches, in March 2011. There has, as yet, been no use of stop and search powers under s47A. (5) Searches conducted by the Metropolitan Police Service only.

Travel

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost of travel by her was in the 11 months to 1 March 2013.

James Brokenshire: Details of overseas travel by Ministers are passed to the Cabinet Office on a quarterly basis and are subsequently published on the Cabinet Office website which is available via the following link:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministers-hospitality-gifts-travel-and-meetings-2012-2013
	The costs for Government Car Services are published in Hansard annually as a written ministerial statement and will be available later this year. The latest figures are available via the following link:
	http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmhansrd/cm121220/wmstext/121220m0001.htm#12122056000216
	Records for other travel costs are not held centrally.

Verne Prison

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the purposes were of the contracts relating to HM Prison The Verne which were awarded by her Department on 7 August 2013 to (a) Aedas, (b) Faithful and Gould and (c) Sweett; and if he will place in the Library a copy of those contracts.

Mark Harper: holding answer 6 September 2013
	Contracts for services at The Verne were awarded by the Ministry of Justice for assessing the feasibility and delivery of the prison's conversion to an immigration removal centre. The conversion provides an additional 580 detention beds required to aid removal of those not entitled to remain in the UK. The contracts can be found via Contracts Finder at:
	https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder
	by searching Ministry of Justice, HMP Verne.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Children: Poverty

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of (a) disabled children and (b) children defined as living in poverty living in households whose income is subject to the benefits cap.

Esther McVey: The information is as follows:
	(a) Households who are in receipt of disability living allowance (DLA) or personal independence payment (PIP) are exempt from the benefit cap. This includes those that receive this benefit for dependent disabled children. Therefore no dependant disabled children as defined by DLA or PIP rules live in households affected by the benefit cap.
	(b) It is not possible to provide this information due to insufficient sample size.

Disability

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of working age adults are currently registered as disabled in (a) Barnsley Central constituency, (b) Barnsley, (c) South Yorkshire and (d) England.

Esther McVey: The Census is the only data source which can provide an estimate of disability prevalence at a local authority level.
	From the 2011 Census we can identify respondents whose day to day activities were either ‘limited a lot' or limited a little' because of a health problem or disability which has lasted, or is expected to last, at least 12 months.
	The percentage of working age adults who replied in the Census that their activities are limited either ‘a lot' or ‘a little’ by a health condition or disability is:
	
		
			  Percentage 
			 (a) Barnsley Central constituency 18 
			 (b) Barnsley 19 
			 (c) South Yorkshire 15 
			 (d) England 13 
		
	
	Information on the Census can be found on the Office for National Statistics website.

Foreign Investment in UK: Japan

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the 100 parliamentary constituencies with the largest amount of Japanese inward investment over the last 30 years.

Nick Hurd: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Cabinet Office.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson, dated September 2013
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question to ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the 100 parliamentary constituencies with the largest amount of Japanese inward investment over the last 30 years. 168245
	ONS compiles data on inward investment at UK level only, data for parliamentary constituencies are not available.

Jobcentre Plus

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what guidance his Department has issued to Jobcentre Plus officers on allowing claimants to use telephones and computer terminals in Jobcentre Plus premises to access local welfare assistance schemes; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Hoban: Local welfare assistance schemes and their accessibility are a matter for local authorities to determine. Jobcentre phones or computers can be used by claimants to make claims for local welfare assistance but we expect most people will contact their local authority in person. We encourage claimants to use other means of contact, where possible, so that people wanting to use Jobcentre facilities to search for work can do so.

Jobseeker's Allowance: Scotland

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Scotland are currently waiting for a new jobseeker's allowance claim to be processed; and what the average waiting time is.

Mark Hoban: In Scotland, 10,629 JSA claims were outstanding at end of July 2013.
	During July 2013, the actual average clearance time (AACT) for JSA claims was 10.1 days, which is an improvement of 1.8 days over the AACT for July 2012.
	July 2013 data are the most recent information available through the Department's management information system.

Offshore Industry: Safety

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the Health and Safety Executive last conducted a review of the safety reporting procedure in the offshore helicopter sector.

Simon Burns: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Transport.
	The Civil Aviation Authority carried out a detailed review of offshore operations and standard operational procedures in February 2009 following an accident involving a Eurocopter EC 225 helicopter.
	The CAA regularly reviews offshore operational practices and standard operational procedures as part of their Regulatory oversight and is also currently involved in assisting EASA in formulating the EASA-OPS rule set for offshore operations involved in the exploitation of Oil and Gas over hostile environments.

Offshore Industry: Safety

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment has been made of the safety implications for the offshore workforce of the fatal accident in the North Sea on 23 August 2013, involving an AS332 L2 model Super Puma helicopter; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Hoban: No assessment has been made as this is not the responsibility of the Health and Safety Executive. This is a matter for the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB).

Personal Income

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what targets his Department has set for reducing income inequality; and what its policy is on the social effect of income inequality.

Esther McVey: The Government is committed to tackling inequality and ensuring that people can overcome the challenges that mean they are stuck in cycles of poverty. As well as improving education and tackling problem debt, the Government is determined to reform the welfare system to encourage work and help people capitalise on their potential.
	The Government is committed to tackling child poverty and to the Child Poverty Act 2010. Relative income poverty, which is a measure of inequality, is one of the targets in the Act. However, while the Government recognises that income is important, income in isolation does not present a full picture of what living in poverty means in the UK. We have consulted on better measures of child poverty that capture its causes. The complexity of the issue means that we need to take time to ensure we have the best option for measuring child poverty, so that we can ensure we properly tackle the causes. We will publish our response as soon as we can.
	The Government is taking action to help the most vulnerable in society, including those in low income. In April 2013, DWP published its report ‘Social Justice: transforming lives—One year on’ which can be found here:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/203041/CM_8606_Social_Justice_tagged-mw.pdf
	This includes action to help troubled families turn their lives around, make sure that children are properly supported so that they complete their education, and work with the voluntary, public and private sectors to deal more effectively with complex problems.

Satellite Broadcasting

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what subscriptions his Department has for premium satellite television channels; and what the cost of each such subscription was in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Mark Hoban: This information is not centrally collated and could not be provided without incurring disproportionate costs.

CABINET OFFICE

Conditions of Employment

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  how many people classed as employed (a) only have one hour per week contracts and (b) have worked one hour in the last year in each constituency in the UK;
	(2)  how many people resident in Vale of Clwyd constituency are classed as employed but (a) only have one hour per week contracts and (b) have worked one hour in a year.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson, dated September 2013
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Questions asking how many people classed as employed (a) only have one hour per week contracts and (b) have worked one hour in the last year in each constituency in the UK (168026); and how many people resident in Vale of Clwyd Constituency are classed as employed but (a) only have one hour per week contracts and (b) have worked one hour in a year. (168029)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles employment statistics for local areas from the Annual Population Survey (APS) following International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions.
	However, ONS does not produce estimates of contracted hours and are not able to produce estimates of the number of people who have worked one hour in a year in any Parliamentary constituency due to small sample sizes.
	National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and Claimant Count are available on the NOMIS website at
	http://www.nomisweb.co.uk

Government Departments: Temporary Employment

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what his policy is on the use of the Swedish Derogation in the Agency Workers Directive for staff working in Government Departments; and if he will make a statement.

Francis Maude: The circumstances in which Departments choose to engage agency workers, and the agencies used, is a matter for individual Departments to determine.
	The Agency Workers Regulations are respected by all departments. However, where agency workers are permanently employed by an agency, contractual arrangements are a matter between the individual and the agency concerned.
	Central Government spending on temporary staff has been reduced by stringent spending controls and has contributed to a saving over £1.6 billion in 2012-13 compared to the level of spending in 2009-10.

New Businesses

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many businesses have opened in (a) Barnsley Central constituency, (b) South Yorkshire and (c) England in the last year.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson, dated September 2013
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking now many businesses have opened in (a) Barnsley Central constituency, (b) South Yorkshire and (c) England in the last year. (168372)
	Data on the number of new businesses started are available in the ONS release on Business Demography at:
	http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/bus-register/business-demography/index.html
	The latest data available are for 2011. Data for 2012 will be available in November 2013.
	The table below contains the count of new enterprises in the Barnsley Central constituency, South Yorkshire Metropolitan County and England.
	
		
			 Count of new enterprise “births” in Barnsley Central constituency, South Yorkshire Metropolitan County and England, 2011 
			  Number 
			 Barnsley Central Constituency 270 
			 South Yorkshire Metropolitan County 3,705 
			 England 232,460 
			 Notes: 1. The above table has been produced using an extract from the Inter Departmental Business Register. 2. These numbers do not include very small businesses, typically those below the threshold for VAT and PAYE.

Social Conditions: Surveys

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent comparative assessment he has made of the UK's position amongst European states in the satisfaction with social life survey; and what steps he is taking to improve the UK's performance in this area.

Nick Hurd: The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is measuring national well-being. Satisfaction with social life is one of the 40 indicators within the measurement framework. The published well-being statistics are experimental. ONS is planning to make a more detailed assessment of each indicator, particularly how they compare to previous estimates. In the meantime the Cabinet Office is working with other Government Departments to make best use of these data in informing policy and recently provided evidence of progress to the Environmental Audit Committee.

Voluntary Work: Young People

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  what steps he is taking to ensure that young people from strong faith and cultural backgrounds have access to the National Citizen Service;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the work of the Jewish Lads' and Girls' Brigade as part of the National Citizen Service in Bury South constituency.

Nick Hurd: The Cabinet Office is committed to ensuring that all 16 and 17-year-olds can participate in the National Citizen Service (NCS). Mixing NCS participants from different backgrounds remains one of the fundamental principles of the programme. To this end, the Cabinet Office and NCS providers have put in measures to facilitate access for young people from strong faith and cultural backgrounds. These include:
	Running single gender programmes;
	Delivering programmes that do not take place over weekends so as not to coincide with Jewish or Christian Sabbath;
	Catering for different dietary requirements and providing prayer facilities; and
	Adapting programmes which take place during Ramadan.'
	In summer 2012 the Jewish Lads' and Girls' Brigade delivered an NCS pilot in the London borough of Redbridge. The Jewish Lads' and Girls' Brigade are not currently delivering NCS programmes as a local delivery partner in the area of Bury South. However, all 16 and 17-year-old members of the Jewish Lads’ and Girls’ Brigade have the opportunity to take part in NCS programmes in this area, including the autumn programme.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Buildings

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what refurbishments to her Department's buildings have been carried out in the last 24 months; and at what cost.

Hugh Robertson: The Department has not carried out any refurbishments in the past 24 months.

Cycling

Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what input her Department provided to the Department for Transport's response to the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Cycling report, Get Britain Cycling.

Hugh Robertson: DCMS works with the Department for Transport on cycling policy. DCMS gave evidence at the APPG enquiry and contributed to the DFT response.

Press: Subscriptions

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which newspapers, periodicals and trade profession publications her private ministerial office subscribes to on a (a) daily, (b) weekly, (c) monthly and (d) quarterly basis.

Hugh Robertson: The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport's private office subscribes to a daily Monday-to-Friday newspaper delivery service.
	This comprises: (a)The Times, FinancialTimes, The Daily Telegraph, The Guardian, The Independent, Daily Mail, Daily Express, Daily Mirror, The Sun and (b) a weekly delivery of The Spectator. It holds no other subscriptions.

Satellite Broadcasting

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what subscriptions her Department has for premium satellite television channels; and what the cost of each such subscription was in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Hugh Robertson: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport does not subscribe to any premium satellite television channels.

Security

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many departmental identity cards or passes have been reported lost or stolen by staff in her Department since May 2010.

Hugh Robertson: In April 2013, the Department moved into 100 Parliament Street, to share accommodation with HMRC. Security passes for 100 Parliament Street are issued by HMRC. The Department did not retain the records of lost passes for its previously occupied buildings.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Christmas Cards

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much his private ministerial office spent on sending Christmas cards in 2012.

Gregory Barker: The ministerial office did not spend any money on sending Christmas cards in 2012.

Electricity Generation

Alan Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much was paid in constraint payments by National Grid in each year from 2009; and what proportion of such payments were received by (a) windfarms and (b) gas-fired power stations.

Michael Fallon: Total constraint payments for generators of all types since 2009 are as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
			 2008-09 263 
			 2009-10 139 
			 2010-11 170 
			 2011-12 325 
			 2012-13 170 
			 Source: National Grid published data 
		
	
	The Department does not hold data on the breakdown of constraint payments for each type of technology. National Grid has advised that details of most individual constraint payments to generators are published at:
	www.elexon.co.uk#
	and
	www.bmreports.com
	and some aggregated data, including an explanation of constraint payments made to wind generation, is published in its ‘Monthly Balancing Services Summary’, available at:
	www.nationalgrid.com/uk/Electricity/Balancing/Summary

Energy: Scotland

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the annual amount paid in constraint payments in Scotland for energy is from (a) wind, (b) coal, (c) gas and (d) nuclear in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Michael Fallon: The Department does not hold data on the breakdown of constraint payments for each type of technology. Constraint payments are made by National Grid through competitive market arrangements in order to help ensure the secure operation of the electricity system. National Grid has advised that details of most individual constraint payments to generators are published at www.elexon.co.uk and www.bmreports.com, and some aggregated data, including an explanation of constraint payments made to wind generation, is published in its Monthly Balancing Services Summary, available at:
	www.nationalgrid.com/uk/Electricity/Balancing/Summary

Fracking

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he is taking to ensure that homes near shale gas extraction sites will not be subject to increased household insurance premiums.

Michael Fallon: On the basis of the information available to Government, there is no reason to expect that exploration activities will have any adverse effect on the insurance premiums of the properties located within the vicinity of exploration activities.
	There has been no evidence of any such effect in the UK to date, in over half a century of oil and gas exploration and production. Gas and oil produced from shale rock through hydraulic fracturing should be broadly similar to the existing gas and oil production in terms of the impacts on health, local amenity, traffic movements and so on. The activities will be subject to the same robust safety and environmental regime, supplemented by new controls against the risk of earthquakes.

Fracking

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the effect on (a) the environment, (b) house prices and (c) the quality of life of fracking.

Michael Fallon: The Royal Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering's report “Shale Gas Extraction in the UK: a review of hydraulic fracturing”, published in June 2012 concluded that environmental (and health and safety) risks associated with hydraulic fracturing could be managed effectively in the UK “as long as operational best practices are implemented and enforced through regulation”.
	The Government are currently reviewing the impacts of energy infrastructure, including shale gas extraction; on the environment and rural economy. This includes effects on air quality, biodiversity, greenhouse gases, health, land use, local environment quality, waste and water. As part of the review, the Government have commissioned research comparing the effects which different types of energy infrastructure may have on house prices. The results of this analysis will be published once completed later this year.

Fracking

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what plans have been put forward by applicant companies seeking licences to operate hydraulic fracturing platforms for gas for the long term management, decontamination or disposal of radioactively contaminated scale on pipes and storage tanks used for fracked gases.

Michael Fallon: There are well established commercial arrangements in place, developed initially for the offshore oil and gas sector, where such equipment can be descaled, put back into service or recycled.

Fracking: North Yorkshire

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what representations he has received and what discussions he has had with regard to fracking in North Yorkshire.

Michael Fallon: No specific representations or discussions have been had regarding hydraulic fracturing in North Yorkshire. All meetings between external organisations and Ministers at the Department of Energy and Climate Change are published quarterly on the Gov.UK website (under Transparency and Freedom of Information) at the following link:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications? departments%5B%5D=department-of-energy-climate-change&publication_type=transparenct-data

Ministers' Private Offices

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many full-time equivalent staff of each Civil Service grade are currently employed in the private office of each Minister in his Department; and what the pay band of each such member of staff is.

Gregory Barker: A breakdown of private office staff, and their respective grades, can be found on the HM Government website:
	http://reference.data.gov.uk/gov-structure/organogram/?dept=decc&post=l

Renewable Energy

Brian Binley: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much his Department pays in subsidy for each unit of energy produced by each form of renewable energy.

Michael Fallon: The Government supports large-scale renewable electricity generation through the Renewables Obligation (RO) and small-scale generation through the feed-in tariff scheme (FIT). Support for renewable heat generation is available through the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI). The rate of subsidy for renewable electricity per megawatt hour (MWh) supported through the Renewables Obligation is estimated to be the value of the Levy Exemption Certificate (around £5/MWh) plus the relevant RO band multiplied by the value of a Renewable Obligation Certificate (ROC—worth around £45 in 2012-13 prices). Ofgem issues ROCs to electricity generators in relation to the amount of eligible renewable electricity that they generate. The current ROC bands for each technology supported by the RO are published on DECC's website:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/211292/ro_banding_levels_2013_17.pdf
	The generation and export tariffs relevant to the FITs scheme are published on Ofgem's website at the following location and are shown in pence per kilowatt hour:
	https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/environmental-programmes/feed-tariff-fit-scheme/tariff-tables
	Tariff payments are made by FIT licensees (electricity suppliers) direct to the FITs generators.
	The tariffs levels applicable to the renewable heat technologies supported under the RHI scheme are available on Ofgem's website at the following location and are shown in pence per kilowatt hour of heat generated (kWhth):
	https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/environmental-programmes/renewable-heat-incentive-rhi/tariffs-and-payments
	Tariff payments are made by Ofgem directly to scheme participants.

Renewable Energy

Eilidh Whiteford: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many tonnes of carbon dioxide his Department estimates were displaced by renewable electricity generation in (a) the UK, (b) England, (c) Scotland and (d) Wales in 2012 for which figures are available.

Michael Fallon: The amount of carbon dioxide displaced by renewable electricity generation can be calculated as the amount of renewable electricity generation multiplied by the carbon dioxide emissions intensity for electricity supplied by all fossil fuels. While renewable generation figures are available for each country, the emissions intensity figure is only available at UK level, so this figure is used in the calculations for all countries. These figures are given for the UK, England, Scotland and Wales in 2012 in the following table.
	
		
			  Renewable electricity generation in 2012 (GWh) Tonnes of carbon dioxide per GWh of electricity supplied by all fossil fuels in 2012 (UK average) Tonnes of carbon dioxide displaced by renewable electricity generation 
			 UK 41,258 700 28,880,620 
			 England 22,974 700 16,081,500 
			 Scotland 14,825 700 10,377,382 
			 Wales 2,284 700 1,598,476

Sellafield

Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 4 September 2013, Official Report, column 419W, on Sellafield, how many employees of Nuclear Management Partners have received bonuses for their work in decommissioning the Sellafield nuclear plant in each of the last three years.

Michael Fallon: For each of the years in question, the net full-time equivalent number of NMP Executive Secondees included in the total bonus payments (pursuant to the answer of 4 September 2013, Official Report, column 419W) was 19.

Sellafield

Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 4 September 2013, Official Report, column 419W, on Sellafield, what the highest single bonus received by an employee of Nuclear Management Partners was for their work in decommissioning the Sellafield nuclear plant in the last three years.

Michael Fallon: NMP is a private company.
	NMP publishes its accounts, which include information on remuneration service costs and the maximum individual cost, in line with the reporting requirements set out in the Companies Act 2006.

Sellafield

Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 4 September 2013, Official Report, column 419W, on Sellafield, what performance criteria must be met before an employee of Nuclear Management Partners receives a bonus for their work in decommissioning the Sellafield nuclear plant.

Michael Fallon: The Sellafield Ltd performance incentive plan, which is open to all staff, is based upon achieving targets for the business that are agreed between the company and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) on an annual basis. The performance incentive plan is structured to recognise the accomplishments of the company as well as those of the individual.

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Business: Billing

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has for consultation or call for evidence on proposals to introduce a fine for late payment.

Michael Fallon: The Government carried out a consultation on late payment last year prior to transposing an EU directive on late payment into UK law. UK legislation gives companies a statutory right to charge interest at 8% above the Bank of England base rate, and collect administration charges for late payment.
	We are looking at additional legislative and non-legislative options to tackle ongoing late payment problems, ensure companies are aware of their existing statutory rights, and encourage take up of those rights. If we assess that further legislative measures are likely to be effective and proportionate, we will consult on these in a timely way.

Business: Government Assistance

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether investigations have been carried out by officials in his Department into allegations that coaches working on the GrowthAccelerator programme are paying the fees of clients.

Michael Fallon: holding answer 9 September 2013
	The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) takes any allegation of malpractice very seriously. When this allegation was raised in an article in The Sunday Times on 28 July, officials asked Grant Thornton (who are responsible for delivering the GrowthAccelerator programme) to investigate.
	They assured officials that they had found no evidence to suggest that coaches were paying clients fees. There are a range of safeguards in place, including the fact that it is the client's choice, supported by their Growth Manager and an objective matching process, to decide which coach they want support from. To date, BIS has not received any evidence of malpractice. If evidence is brought forward then I will investigate further.

Business: Regulation

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on how many occasions and on what dates the business taskforce on EU regulation has met since May 2010.

Michael Fallon: My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced the creation of the Business Taskforce on EU regulation at the end of June 2013. The Taskforce has met five times so far on 11 July, 19 July, 12 August, 2 September, and 11 September 2013.

Company Accounts

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will set a deadline for those companies which have received letters from Companies House regarding disclosure of overseas subsidiaries who have not yet filed this information to bring their records up-to-date.

Michael Fallon: Companies House has written to each company which has not yet brought its record up to date, and asked that they do so before the end of September.

Data Protection

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will assess the effect of data protection legislation on the ability of hon. Members to act on their constituents' behalf with regards to complaints to business and service providers.

Helen Grant: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.
	The Data Protection Act (DPA) does not prevent Members of Parliament acting on behalf of their constituents regarding complaints to business and service providers. The DPA ensures that the handling of personal data, including disclosing it to third parties, is conducted in a lawful and proportionate manner, with appropriate safeguards in place. Given the principles-based nature of the legislation it is for organisations to decide in the context of their own operations how to apply the Act's requirements, within the limit of the law and available guidance.
	The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) provides extensive guidance on data protection for both organisations and the public, which can be accessed on its website:
	www.ico.gov.uk

Exports

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the change in the seasonally-adjusted level of non-EU exports since May 2013.

Michael Fallon: Estimates of the value of non-EU exports (goods only) since May 2013 are shown in the following table, taken from Table 2 in the ONS UK Trade July 2013 bulletin, released on 6 September 2013.
	
		
			 Month Goods exports to non-EU (£ billion) Change on previous month (£ billion) Percentage change on previous month 
			 May 2013 12.8 -0.4 -3 
			 June 2013 14.0 +1.2 +9 
			 July 2013 11.8 -2.2 -16 
		
	
	Trade statistics for any one month can be erratic. For that reason, ONS recommend to compare the latest three months against the preceding three months and the same three months of 2012. On this basis, the change in the seasonally adjusted value of non-EU exports (goods only) are (as shown in Table 2 of UK Trade July 2013):
	
		
			 UK exports to Non-EU (goods only, BoP basis) 
			 Three months ended: £ billion 
			 2012 July 38.35 
			 2013 April 38.28 
			 2013 July 38.51 
		
	
	
		
			 Percentage change, latest three months compared with: Percentage 
			 Previous three months 0.6 
			 Same three months last year 0.4

Graduates: Income

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent estimate he has made of additional life time earnings of graduates.

David Willetts: There have been several studies of this over recent years, some commissioned by BIS and its predecessors, some commissioned by other organisations. Whilst they differ in terms of methodology, time periods covered and some of the underlying assumptions, they all use a broadly similar approach, and taken together they point to there being a substantial lifetime earnings premium for graduates due to having their degree. Looking across the studies our conclusion is that over the course of a working life the average graduate earns comfortably over £100,000 more in today's valuation, net of tax, than someone with two or more A-levels who does not go to university.
	The most recent research was published in the BIS research series in August 2013. The estimate of the lifetime graduate earnings premium was higher than previous estimates: £250,000 for women and £165,000 for men (see:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/university-degrees-impact-on-lifecycle-of-earnings
	This graduate premium is an average and it will vary across individuals, subjects and institutions—however, the evidence shows that people still tend to be financially better off with a degree than without.

Industry

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to table 4.1 of his Department's document Industrial Strategy: UK sector analysis, published in September 2012, for which sectors the Government (a) has developed and (b) plans to develop a strategic partnership.

Michael Fallon: This year as part of the Industrial Strategy Government and business have jointly developed and published sector strategies for Aerospace, Automotive, Agritech, Information Economy, Professional and Business Services, Education, Construction, Offshore Wind, Civil Nuclear, and Oil and Gas. In December 2012 a one year on update to the Life Sciences strategy was published.
	In June 2013 an industry led sector strategy for electronics was published, and a new strategy from the Defence Growth Partnership was launched on 9 September. A chemicals strategy will be published this autumn.
	Beyond this, the Government provides support for all sectors of the economy ranging from light touch engagement, to fully coordinated sector partnerships.

Literacy

Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what strategy the Government has to improve adult literacy in (a) deprived areas and (b) Devonport to ensure that people in such areas are better prepared for employment.

Matthew Hancock: It is the Government's priority to ensure that all adults throughout England have the basic skills they need to find and sustain employment. In “Skills for Sustainable Growth” (2010) the Government set out that it will fully fund learning for adults to improve their English (and maths skills). In “Rigour and Responsiveness in Skills” (April 2013) we affirmed that we will maintain entitlements to fully funded English (and maths) provision that supports progression to the standard of a good GCSE (A*-C) for all adult learners.
	To ensure that individuals are developing the right level of literacy skills needed for employment, we are embedding effective literacy provision within our major skills interventions. Our recently developed Traineeships programme for young people puts English and maths at its core, alongside work preparation and work experience. We have also increased the expectations for English within apprenticeships. From 2014/15 all intermediate apprentices will be required to work towards achieving a level 2 in English, ensuring that all apprentices have literacy skills and qualifications that are widely recognised and valued by employers and others.
	As a further commitment to this agenda, the Government are taking steps to improve standards within the further education system. From the academic year 2013/14; grants of £9000 will be offered to graduates teaching English to encourage them to teach in further education colleges. These bursaries will help us recruit the brightest and best teachers so we can improve standards and provide people with the basic skills they need for a rewarding career.
	Through community learning, we also support courses aimed at improving literacy for families and individuals who are most disadvantaged and furthest from learning.
	Final data for the 2011/12 academic year shows that there were 2,080 adult (19+) learners participating on a Skills for Life English course in Plymouth Sutton and Devonport parliamentary constituency, up by 13.9% on 2010/11.

New Businesses: Government Assistance

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many applications have been made in total under the Start-Up Loans scheme to date; how many such applications (a) have been successful, (b) are currently being assessed, (c) have been rejected and (d) have drawn down funds; and what the breakdown is in each category by (i) gender of applicant, (ii) age of applicant, (iii) region and (iv) Start-Up Loans delivery partner.

Michael Fallon: 34,874 people have formally registered an interest in Start-Up Loans and 7,628 loan offers have been made. Since decline data has been collected (May 2013), 368 loans have been formally declined. A further 1,831 applicants have withdrawn their application. 2,929 applications are currently being assessed.
	Full personal information is verified and submitted by partners at point of loan drawdown. Data on gender, age and location is not currently available for declined applications. However, data is available for the 6,501 loans drawn to date, distributed as follows:
	36% Female; 64% Male;
	38% 18 to 24 years; 62% 25+ years; and
	43% BAME (self-report data).
	By region, these are split:
	
		
			  Percentage 
			 East 6 
			 EM 6 
			 Ldn 38 
			 NE 5 
			 NW 16 
			 SE 8 
			 SW 5 
			 WM 7 
			 Y&H 9 
		
	
	By delivery partner, these are split:
	
		
			  Number 
			 Biz Britain 98 
			 Bricks and Bread 33 
			 Bright Ideas Trust 43 
			 Brightside Trust 84 
			 Business Finance Solutions 439 
			 Business Support and Development 124 
			 Cloudspeed/f6s 62 
			 CDFA 356 
			 Dreamstake 21 
			 East London Small Business Centre 80 
			 Elevation Networks 269 
			 Enterprise Lending East Midlands 113 
			 Enterprise4All 29 
			 Entrepreneur Country 5 
			 Exodus 5 
			 Fashion Angel 33 
			 Foundation East 68 
			 GLE 112 
			 Hull Business Development Fund 77 
			 Hyndburn Enterprise Trust 41 
			 Kaleidoscope 31 
			 Leeds City Credit Union 10 
			 Let's do Business Group 156 
			 Norfolk and Waveney Enterprise Services 101 
			 Original Upstarts 9 
			 Positive Inclusions 242 
			 Printing.com 24 
			 Prospects 10 
			 Riverside Credit Union 86 
			 Rockstar Youth 1,070 
			 School for Start Ups 1,039 
			 SFEDI 47 
			 Sheffield City Council 21 
			 South West Investment Group 116 
			 Spring to Action 14 
			 Start-Up Direct 201 
			 Start-Up Loans London 281 
			 The Prince's Trust 560 
			 Train E Traid E 22 
			 Transmit Start-Ups 57 
			 University of Arts 15 
			 Virgin Unite/PNE 79 
			 WSX Enterprise 53 
			 Yorkshire Coast Enterprise 23 
			 Young Britain 123 
			 Youth Enterprise 19

New Businesses: North Yorkshire

Andrew Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the (a) number and (b) monetary value of loans to be given to entrepreneurs in (i) Harrogate and Knaresborough constituency and (ii) North Yorkshire as a result of the start-up loans scheme.

Michael Fallon: The Start-Up Loans Company is only able to provide information at district level. 124 loans have been drawn down in North Yorkshire worth £705,174, distributed as follows:
	
		
			 District Loans Value (£) 
			 Craven 7 29,500 
			 Hambleton 25 158,000 
			 Harrogate 41 244,650 
			 Richmondshire 14 83,450 
			 Ryedale 2 9,500 
			 Scarborough 23 143,974 
			 Selby 1 2,000 
			 York City 11 54,100

WOMEN AND EQUALITIES

Billing

Nick de Bois: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, how many creditors of her Department owed more than £10,000 which remained unpaid after (a) 30 days, (b) 45 days, (c) 60 days, (d) 75 days and (e) more than 90 days in each of the last three years.

Helen Grant: The number of invoices over the value of £10,000 paid on behalf of the Government Equalities Offices and that were more than 30-days after invoice date in each of the last two years is set out in the following table.
	
		
			  31-45 days 46-60 days 61-75 days 76-90 days Over 90 days Total—all payments taking over 30 days 
			 2012-2013 1 0 0 0 0 1 
			 2011-2012 1 0 0 0 0 1 
		
	
	The Government Equalities Office used financial systems provided by the Home Office from 1 April 2011 until 31 March 2013 when it moved onto the Department for Culture, Media and Sport's systems. This information is not available for earlier periods when the Government Equalities Office received financial services from the Department for Communities and Local Government.

Female Genital Mutilation

Helen Goodman: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on the practice of female genital mutilation in the UK.

Helen Grant: Female genital mutilation (FGM) is an unacceptable form of abuse and violence against girls and women, and this Government are absolutely committed to preventing and tackling FGM.
	The Ministers for Women and Equalities attend the Home Office Inter-Ministerial Group on Violence Against Women and Girls and are committed to supporting the Governments Action Plan to End Violence Against Women and Girls. The Government Equalities Office (GEO) was represented at the Home Office Ministerial Roundtable on FGM on 18 July, hosted by Jeremy Browne, Minister for Crime Prevention. GEO also attends quarterly cross-government policy officials meetings on FGM.
	I held a roundtable meeting on International Women's Day 2013 with members of the women's sector to discuss violence against women and girls, including FGM.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Empty Property

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many empty homes have been brought back into use under the New Homes Bonus in (a) Barnsley Central constituency, (b) South Yorkshire and (c) England to date.

Mark Prisk: The New Homes Bonus rewards the creation of new homes including long-term empty homes that are brought back into use within each local authority area. The net number of empty homes brought back into use for the three years since the bonus was introduced is:
	for Barnsley: 249;
	for South Yorkshire (consisting of Barnsley, Doncaster, Sheffield and Rotherham authorities): 944; and
	for England: 55,702.

Health

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what information his Department holds on the proportion of funding transferred from the Department of Health to his Department for purposes of improving public health which is being spent on (a) leisure provision, (b) housing, (c) anti-social behaviour and (d) improving the environment.

Brandon Lewis: The Department of Communities and Local Government does not hold this information. The ring-fenced Public Health Grant is transferred from the Department of Health to local authorities and the allocation covers both services mandated through regulation and all other services that local authorities may wish to commission locally. It is left for local authorities to decide what proportion of spending should be devoted to different services.

Homelessness

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many homeless (a) children and (b) adults are in temporary accommodation in each local authority area in the West Midlands.

Mark Prisk: Information from the Department's statistics shows the total number of households in temporary accommodation, the number of these households that contain children or expected children and the total number of children in temporary accommodation for each local authority in the West Midlands as at 31 March 2013. I am arranging for a table to be placed in the Library of the House.
	From 9 November 2012, local authorities have new powers under the Localism Act to use good-quality private rented sector accommodation to end the main homelessness duty. Families no longer need to be parked in temporary accommodation while they wait for social housing to become available.
	At the same time, we have also put in place extra protection for the most vulnerable. The Homelessness (Suitability of Accommodation) (England) Order 2012 will help prevent the use of temporary accommodation which is long distances from the families previous home and community.
	For households already in temporary accommodation the local authority has a duty (under section 193 of the Housing Act) to find that family settled accommodation. Local authorities should continue to work with these households to discuss alternative housing options as they become available.
	We are investing £470 million in homelessness prevention over four years (2011/12 - 2014/15) to help local authorities and voluntary sector partners prevent homelessness and we are continuing to support local authorities to raise their game with an additional £1.7 million over two years (2012/13 - 2013/14), for a new Gold Standard support and training scheme across the country to deliver the best possible service to those that are at risk of homelessness.

Staff

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many of his Department's jobs have been relocated from London to each region of the UK in each of the last 10 years.

Brandon Lewis: There has been no substantive transfer of jobs since the Department was established in 2006, although Human Resources transactional services were transferred from London to Liverpool in 2010.
	Comparative figures on staffing transfers are not centrally held, due to machinery of government changes since 2006 and the general restructuring of the Department.

EDUCATION

Conditions of Employment

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many staff (a) directly employed and (b) indirectly employed through other companies by his Department were employed on zero-hours contracts in each of the last 10 years.

Elizabeth Truss: The Department does not currently employ any staff on zero hours contracts and it did not do so in any of the financial years 2010-11, 2011-12 or 2012-13. No records are held prior to this.

Email

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will place in the Library a copy of all internal briefings prepared for Ministers on the use of private email accounts for the purpose of conducting official Government business in response to parliamentary questions tabled by the hon. Member for West Bromwich East in the (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14 parliamentary sessions.

Elizabeth Truss: Briefing notes accompanying parliamentary questions are confidential to the Ministers of the day and will not be placed in the Library.

GCSE: English Language

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what consideration he has given to the effect of Ofqual's decision to remove the Speaking and Listening Assessment from GCSE English and GCSE English Language on the attainment of (a) pupils with special educational needs, (b) pupils with speech, language and communication needs, (c) pupils with dyslexia and (d) children considered to be from more deprived backgrounds.

Elizabeth Truss: The assessment of speaking and listening has not been removed from GCSE English and English Language. Students' speaking and listening skills will be reported separately on the GCSE certificate alongside the GCSE grade, giving a more detailed picture of students' achievements than under the previous arrangements.
	Ofqual has published an equality impact assessment of this change, which can be viewed at:
	http://www.ofqual.gov.uk/files/2013-04-25-equality-analysis-changes-to-gcse-english.pdf
	A copy of this document has been placed in the House Library.

Government Procurement Card

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make it his policy to reduce the number of staff in his private ministerial office who hold a Government Procurement Card.

Elizabeth Truss: Three members of staff in the ministerial private office of the Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), hold a Government Procurement Card. The Department strictly adheres to the Cabinet Office's guidance governing the use of Government Procurement Cards which is available at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/219671/pan-gp-card-policy.pdf
	The Department has significantly reduced the number of Government Procurement Cards held, from 112 in 2009-10, to 70 in 2012-13.

Ministers: Training

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what training his Department provides for newly-appointed Ministers; and whether he has attended any such training sessions since his appointment.

Elizabeth Truss: Newly appointed Ministers receive briefing on the Ministerial Code and about handling of Parliamentary Business. Ministers' offices also arrange for Ministers to be briefed on their individual policy areas and provided with additional guidance or briefing on request.

Public Appointments

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education on how many occasions his Department has been granted an (a) extension and (b) exemption to a ministerial appointment to a public body in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments' Code of Practice since May 2010.

Elizabeth Truss: Since May 2010 the Department has, within its public bodies, (a) extended the term of office of 15 public appointees and (b) agreed one exemption.

Schools: Finance

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many schools financial value standard declarations have been received from schools in (a) Barnsley Central constituency, (b) South Yorkshire and (c) England in the last financial year.

David Laws: The Schools Financial Value Standard (SFVS) was introduced to local authority maintained schools in the academic year from September 2011. The SFVS does not apply to academies and free schools; however all these schools are welcome to use any of the material associated with the standard, if they find it useful.
	The Education Funding Agency (EFA) analysed local authority's Dedicated Schools Grant assurance statements for the period April 2012 to March 2013 to ensure that the SFVS process fits within the existing assurance framework so that it operates efficiently and coherently for both local authorities and the EFA.
	The first collation of data was from September 2011 to 31 March 2012, applicable only for those schools that did not achieve the Financial Management Standard in Schools (FMSiS) before. All the remaining schools were required to submit their SFVS forms by 31 March 2013, with an annual review thereafter.
	The area of the former South Yorkshire metropolitan council includes Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield local authorities:
	70 SFVS declarations have been received from schools in Barnsley;
	92 SFVS declarations have been received from schools in Doncaster;
	116 SFVS declarations have been received from schools in Rotherham; and
	144 SFVS declarations have been received from schools in Sheffield.
	A total of 422 SFVS declarations have been received from the area of the former South Yorkshire metropolitan council.
	18,567 SFVS declarations have been received from schools in England.

Schools: Uniforms

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the (a) provision of school uniform grants and (b) cost of school uniform.

David Laws: It is for the governing body to decide whether there should be a school uniform. The Department has issued guidance(1) to all schools on the need to consider the cost and availability of school uniforms.
	Local authorities and academies have discretion within their budgets to provide school clothing grants or offer other help with the cost of school clothing in cases of financial hardship. The Department does not collect data on school uniform costs.
	(1 )School Uniform: A Guide for Head Teachers, Governing Bodies, Academy Trusts, Free Schools and Local Authorities (2012), available at
	http://education.gov.uk/schools/leadership/schoolethos/b0014144/schooluniform

Social Workers

Craig Whittaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the latest (a) vacancy and (b) turnover rates for social workers in England is in each (i) local authority and (ii) region.

Edward Timpson: The Department does not currently hold this information. We have plans in place to collect the relevant data from autumn 2013 and will make it available from March 2014.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

British Council

Pauline Latham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps UK Trade and Investment takes to ensure there is no conflict of interest between the British Council's role in assessing and advising on applications for support for educational businesses and its role as a provider of such services.

David Willetts: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	The British Council does not have a role in assessing UK companies applying for support to participate in UKTI-supported activities and events. All companies are subject to standard UKTI eligibility criteria.
	UKTI and BIS have set up the Education UK Unit to help UK educational organisations and businesses access high value opportunities overseas. The unit will work closely with a broad set of stakeholders and, where there is any potential for conflict of interest, will take particular care to act even-handedly between different providers, public or private, large or small.

Chemical Weapons

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which (a) Minister and (b) officials from his Department met the Director-General for the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons on 23 August 2013; what matters were discussed at that meeting; and what decisions were taken.

Alistair Burt: Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü (Director General for the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons) visited the UK on 23 August 2013 for a private engagement at the University of Surrey: No Ministers or officials met with Ambassador Üzümcü during this visit. The UK has regular engagement with Ambassador Üzümcü to discuss issues related to the chemical weapons convention and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. I last met with Ambassador Üzümcü on 9 April 2013 at the Chemical Weapons Convention 3(rd) Review Conference in The Hague.

Israel

Andrew Bridgen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department has received from (a) UK and (b) other journalists working in Israel regarding delays by the Israeli Government in issuing press card renewals.

Alistair Burt: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has received several representations from one British journalist about delays in the renewal of his press card by the Israeli authorities. We have received no other representations.

Middle East

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will provide an estimate of the number of inhabitants of the Gaza strip killed by Israeli bombardments of white phosphorus, with a separate estimate of the number of civilians killed.

Alistair Burt: We have received no reports of the use of white phosphorus by the Israeli Defence Force in Gaza since Operation Cast Lead in 2009. We have not made an estimate of the number of Palestinians killed by the use of white phosphorus in the Gaza strip.

Nobel Prize: Ceremonies

Brian Binley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the cost was of UK participation at the Nobel Prize Ceremony 2013.

Nicholas Clegg: I attended the Nobel Prize Ceremony on 10 December 2012 on behalf of the UK Government. The costs of this trip have already been published as part of the regularly quarterly release of information about the Deputy Prime Minister's overseas travel, available at the following link:
	http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-meetings-with-external-organisations-october-to-december-2012

Shaker Aamer

Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent progress he has made in securing the release of Shaker Aamer; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: Mr Aamer's case remains a high priority for the British Government. We continue to make clear to our US counterparts that we want him released and returned to the UK as a matter of urgency. The Prime Minister raised his case with President Obama at the G8 Summit in Northern Ireland in June. He later wrote to President Obama reaffirming the importance the UK places on Mr Aamer's release and return. I made representations to the US Secretary of State on two separate occasions in May. We are confident that the US Government understand the seriousness of our request.

Staff

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many of his Department's jobs have been relocated from London to each region of the UK in each of the last 10 years.

Alistair Burt: The FCO is committed to locating staff outside London where this makes business sense. Over the last 10 years, as part of the Lyons review, we have moved staff from London to both Northgate House in Milton Keynes and Hanslope Park, Hanslope. To confirm how many individual positions have moved from London to the Southeast over the last 10 years would incur disproportionate costs. However, the following tables set out the location of FCO-only staff in March 2008 and March 2013:
	
		
			 Headcount 
			 Year London Outside London Total 
			 2013 2,611 315 2,926 
			 2008 2,497 176 2,673 
		
	
	
		
			 Percentage 
			 Year London Outside London 
			 2013 89 11 
			 2008 93 7 
		
	
	These figures are for the FCO only. They do not include the FCO Agencies, which are FCO Services and Wilton Park. In addition to these numbers, a majority of the 880 FCO Services staff are outside London working at Hanslope Park or overseas.

Syria

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he (a) raised with his Syrian counterpart and (b) made representations to the Syrian Government that Syria should join the Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons since May 2010.

Alistair Burt: I called for Syria to join the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) without delay at the third CWC Review Conference on 9 April 2013. We have not directly raised with our Syrian counterpart, nor made representations to the Syrian Government, pressing them to join the Chemical Weapons Convention since May 2010.

Syria

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he (a) raised with his Russian counterpart and (b) made representations to the Russian Government on the importance of pressing Syria to join the Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons since May 2010.

Alistair Burt: I addressed all parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), including Russia, at the third CWC Review Conference on 9 April 2013. In my statement I urged all states to not ignore the situation in Syria, and called on Syria to join the CWC without delay. We have also used our bilateral contacts with Russia to raise the importance of Syria joining the CWC.

Syria

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he (a) raised with his Chinese counterpart and (b) made representations to the Chinese Government on pressing Syria to join the Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons since 2010.

Alistair Burt: I addressed all parties to the chemical weapons convention (CWC)—including China—at the 3rd CWC Review Conference on 9 April 2013. In my statement I urged all states to not ignore the situation in Syria, and called on Syria to join the CWC without delay. We have also used our bilateral contacts with China to raise with them the importance of Syria joining the CWC.

Syria

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he (a) raised with his Iranian counterpart and (b) made representations to the Iranian Government on pressing Syria to join the Convention on the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons since 2010.

Alistair Burt: I addressed all parties to the chemical weapons convention (CWC)—including Iran—at the 3rd CWC Review Conference on 9 April 2013. In my statement I urged all states to not ignore the situation in Syria, and called on Syria to join the CWC without delay.

Western Sahara

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the EU consulted the local Saharawi population before drawing up the new protocol to the EU-Morocco Fisheries Partnership Agreement.

Alistair Burt: The new Fisheries Partnership Agreement (FPA) with the Kingdom of Morocco was negotiated by the European Commission on behalf of the European Union. The FPA between the European Union and the Kingdom of Morocco has not yet been agreed. 1 expect the European Commission to publish proposals in the near future. Those proposals will be considered by both the Council and the European Parliament prior to adoption.

Western Sahara

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 26 November 2012, Official Report, column 104W, on Western Sahara, whether Morocco has yet produced the evidence referred to.

Alistair Burt: The Moroccan Economic and Social Council (ESC) have published reports this year which provide information on Moroccan investment in the region which includes Western Sahara. The reports can be found at
	http://www.ces.ma/Pages/modele-de-developpement-regional-pour-les-provinces-du-Sud.aspx

JUSTICE

Civil Proceedings

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the potential effect on equality of arms in the legal system (a) following the implementation of the Jackson reforms and the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 and (b) of the proposed increase to the small claims limit.

Jeremy Wright: In July last year the Government published an impact assessment of the Jackson reforms contained in Part 2 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012. The Government will review the effect of the reforms, which generally came into effect on 1 April 2013, within three to five years of implementation.
	An impact assessment on the potential effects of the proposal to increase the ‘small claims limit’ for personal injury claims was published with the consultation paper ‘Reducing the number and costs of whiplash claims’. A revised impact assessment will be published alongside the Government's response to the consultation later this year.

Confiscation Orders

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the value was of orders enforced under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 in each of the last five years.

Helen Grant: The amount recovered from confiscation orders, under the Proceeds of Crime Act (2002), is recorded in the following table.
	
		
			 Financial year Amount recovered under POCA 2002 (£) 
			 2008-09 62,147,303 
			 2009-10 64,403,939 
			 2010-11 74,843,460 
			 2011-12 104,415,930 
			 2012-13 108,843,917

Crown Courts

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what the average length of time was between a crime being committed and the trial being completed at Leicester Crown court in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many Crown court trials have been adjourned in each of the last five years due to no judge being available, in each court;
	(3)  what the average length of time between a crime being committed and the trial at the Crown court being completed is in each court in each of the last five years.

Helen Grant: The number of trial hearings which are considered ineffective due to ‘judge/magistrates availability’ is published by court as part of the National Statistics publication ‘Court Statistics Quarterly’.
	We are overhauling the Criminal Justice System to make the court process swifter and more efficient and recently launched our ‘CJS Strategy and Action Plan’ which includes steps to address the number of cracked and ineffective trials including increasing digital working and improved case management of files.
	The proportion of trials which are ineffective at the Crown court has remained stable between 2007 and 2012 at around 13%. The proportion of effective trials has increased since Q4 2010 (44%) to Q1 2013 (51%).
	See Table 1 for the number of ineffective trial hearings due to ‘judge availability’, Crown Court, England and Wales, 2008-12.
	The average length of time taken from offence to completion for cases in the Crown court is published quarterly by court as part of the National Statistics' publication ‘Court Statistics Quarterly’.
	Published timeliness totals relate to all case outcomes (e.g. those acquitted as well as found guilty)—it is not possible to discern the timeliness of trial only Crown court cases from these data.
	See Table 2 for the average (mean) time from offence to completion in weeks, Crown court cases, by Crown court, England and Wales, January 2011 to March 2013.
	All breakdowns provided can also be found as part of the transparency files on the Justice website at the following link:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/207806/court-stats-q1-main-tables.xls
	
		
			 Table 1: Ineffective trial hearings(1) due to ‘judge/magistrates availability’, Crown court, England and Wales, 2008-12(2) 
			 Trial hearings 
			   2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 
			 Aylesbury Crown Court Trials hearings 222 193 153 358 417 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 22 18 20 44 68 
		
	
	
		
			  Judge/magistrates availability 2 1 1 1 1 
			 Barnstaple Crown Court Trials hearings 11 11 19 17 16 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 2 — — — — 
			  Judge/magistrates availability — — — — — 
			 Barrow-in-Furness Crown Court Trials hearings 79 65 54 63 62 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 14 6 8 10 7 
			  Judge/magistrates availability — — — — — 
			 Basildon Combined Court Trials hearings 462 591 637 605 635 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 35 22 22 25 61 
			  Judge/magistrates availability 1 — — — — 
			 Birmingham Crown Court Trials hearings 1,213 1,264 1,180 1,164 1,143 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 90 122 95 119 95 
			  Judge/magistrates availability — — 1 — — 
			 Blackfriars Crown Court Trials hearings 628 775 854 852 803 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 103 111 145 141 147 
			  Judge/magistrates availability 2 1 3 3 1 
			 Bolton Combined Court Centre Trials hearings 512 463 390 371 383 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 44 58 46 30 45 
			  Judge/magistrates availability 1 1 1 — 1 
			 Bournemouth Crown Court Trials hearings 203 244 257 274 221 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 4 24 25 28 18 
			  Judge/magistrates availability — — — 1 — 
			 Bradford Combined Court Centre Trials hearings 720 796 1,020 905 721 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 123 115 160 119 81 
			  Judge/magistrates availability 1 4 4 2 4 
			 Bristol Crown Court Trials hearings 580 597 712 708 570 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 83 80 150 143 89 
			  Judge/magistrates availability — — — 1 2 
			 Burnley Combined Court Centre Trials hearings 247 259 327 345 268 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 30 43 42 74 60 
			  Judge/magistrates availability — 1 — 1 3 
			 Caernarfon Crown Court Trials hearings 89 97 84 115 157 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 4 4 8 6 15 
			  Judge/magistrates availability 1 — — — — 
			 Cambridge Crown Court Trials hearings 246 342 331 318 355 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 26 50 50 42 64 
			  Judge/magistrates availability — 1 2 — — 
			 Cardiff Crown Court Trials hearings 884 803 893 841 826 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 87 82 100 108 94 
			  Judge/magistrates availability — — 1 1 1 
			 Carlisle Combined Court Centre Trials hearings 296 320 341 318 256 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 49 39 48 41 40 
			  Judge/magistrates availability — — — — 1 
			 Carmarthen Crown Court Trials hearings 87 87 98 126 118 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 3 10 1 7 12 
			  Judge/magistrates availability — 1 — — — 
			 Canterbury Combined Court Centre Trials hearings 354 384 392 302 397 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 47 70 52 42 54 
			  Judge/magistrates availability 1 1 1 3 2 
			 Central Criminal Court Trials hearings 422 714 843 696 651 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 79 128 172 137 141 
			  Judge/magistrates availability 3 4 4 — 4 
			 Chelmsford Crown Court Trials hearings 321 379 388 372 285 
		
	
	
		
			  Ineffective trial hearings 40 35 27 30 19 
			  Judge/magistrates availability 1 — 1 — — 
			 Chester Crown Court Trials hearings 250 219 193 178 289 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 19 17 16 25 37 
			  Judge/magistrates availability — — — 1 2 
			 Chichester Combined Court Centre Trials hearings 150 195 213 191 172 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 11 25 32 34 44 
			  Judge/magistrates availability 1 — 2 — — 
			 Coventry Combined Court Centre(3) Trials hearings 192 148 158 214 170 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 13 10 19 26 16 
			  Judge/magistrates availability — — — — — 
			 Croydon Crown Court Trials hearings 826 940 988 918 1,004 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 114 133 138 130 158 
			  Judge/magistrates availability 1 1 2 — 1 
			 Derby Combined Court Centre Trials hearings 448 468 509 557 412 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 63 57 74 83 62 
			  Judge/magistrates availability — — — — 5 
			 Doncaster Crown Court Trials hearings 204 239 315 247 189 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 20 18 43 36 30 
			  Judge/magistrates availability — 1 — 3 — 
			 Durham Crown Court Trials hearings 324 347 380 321 299 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 45 37 62 59 43 
			  Judge/magistrates availability 1 — — 1 — 
			 Exeter Combined Court Centre Trials hearings 218 214 214 174 185 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 10 10 17 6 14 
			  Judge/magistrates availability 1 — — — — 
			 Gloucester Crown Court Trials hearings 173 166 180 154 164 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 23 23 27 18 16 
			  Judge/magistrates availability — 1 — 1 1 
			 Great Grimsby Combined Court Centre Trials hearings 236 234 236 234 195 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 11 6 20 10 13 
			  Judge/magistrates availability — — — — 1 
			 Guildford Crown Court Trials hearings 292 469 491 457 441 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 42 85 97 78 86 
			  Judge/magistrates availability 2 1 1 — — 
			 Harrow Crown Court Trials hearings 706 807 810 838 758 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 105 107 120 123 102 
			  Judge/magistrates availability — 3 9 4 1 
			 Haverfordwest Crown Court Trials hearings 36 41 50 54 54 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 1 5 2 5 6 
			  Judge/magistrates availability — — — — — 
			 Inner London Crown Court Trials hearings 1,175 1,148 1,156 1,180 1,128 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 222 253 222 232 248 
			  Judge/magistrates availability 8 5 2 8 5 
			 Ipswich Crown Court Trials hearings 251 273 347 331 255 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 20 23 46 31 42 
			  Judge/magistrates availability — 1 — 2 3 
			 Isle of Wight Combined Court Trials hearings 74 94 86 64 74 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 4 9 10 4 7 
			  Judge/magistrates availability 1 — 1 1 — 
			 Isleworth Crown Court Trials hearings 700 1,062 1,329 1,532 1,325 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 91 174 180 231 227 
			  Judge/magistrates availability 1 2 — 3 3 
		
	
	
		
			 Kingston-upon-Hull Combined Court Centre Trials hearings 378 397 457 475 364 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 30 25 50 88 44 
			  Judge/magistrates availability 1 — — 2 1 
			 Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court Trials hearings 1,041 1,040 1,445 1,084 718 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 141 155 210 157 71 
			  Judge/magistrates availability — 2 2 1 1 
			 Lancaster Crown Court Trials hearings 101 70 104 95 82 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 12 7 25 22 12 
			  Judge/magistrates availability — — 1 — — 
			 Leeds Combined Court Centre Trials hearings 1,029 1,057 1,154 1,030 1,077 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 122 115 123 101 138 
			  Judge/magistrates availability — 1 — 2 — 
			 Leicester Crown Court Trials hearings 485 503 580 720 600 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 77 92 122 195 131 
			  Judge/magistrates availability — 3 2 2 7 
			 Lewes Combined Court Centre Trials hearings 867 1,036 1,000 869 678 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 124 195 182 171 122 
			  Judge/magistrates availability 7 4 6 3 4 
			 Lincoln Crown Court Trials hearings 198 232 241 228 281 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 21 31 31 40 50 
			  Judge/magistrates availability 1 — — — — 
			 Liverpool Crown Court Trials hearings 1,431 1,357 1,479 1,112 1,214 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 112 144 134 107 94 
			  Judge/magistrates availability 1 1 — 1 — 
			 Luton Crown Court Trials hearings 364 395 492 533 475 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 32 42 71 58 86 
			  Judge/magistrates availability — — 1 2 1 
			 Maidstone Combined Court Centre Trials hearings 479 629 686 612 548 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 59 96 92 112 83 
			  Judge/magistrates availability 1 — 1 2 — 
			 Manchester Crown Court (Crown Square) Trials hearings 863 934 1,067 1,006 955 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 95 109 146 125 146 
			  Judge/magistrates availability — 2 — 1 4 
			 Manchester Crown Court (Minshull St) Trials hearings 797 831 896 922 922 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 76 73 99 102 119 
			  Judge/magistrates availability — — — — 3 
			 Merthyr Tydfil Combined Court Centre Trials hearings 38 248 307 288 248 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 1 14 45 29 29 
			  Judge/magistrates availability — 1 — 2 — 
			 Mold Crown Court Trials hearings 367 328 319 221 228 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 37 25 19 24 23 
			  Judge/magistrates availability — — — 2 1 
			 Newcastle-upon-Tyne Combined Court Centre Trials hearings 1,020 1,118 983 1,014 934 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 126 113 132 146 132 
			  Judge/magistrates availability 4 2 3 1 2 
			 Northampton Combined Court Trials hearings 239 232 275 367 398 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 11 9 9 28 47 
			  Judge/magistrates availability — — — 1 — 
			 Norwich Combined Court Centre Trials hearings 230 311 305 350 330 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 20 30 31 44 46 
			  Judge/magistrates availability — — — 1 — 
		
	
	
		
			 Nottingham Crown Court Trials hearings 485 601 531 641 608 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 52 74 76 97 76 
			  Judge/magistrates availability — 1 — — 2 
			 Oxford Combined Court Centre Trials hearings 357 433 385 372 347 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 50 97 53 61 53 
			  Judge/magistrates availability 3 1 1 — — 
			 Peterborough Combined Court Centre Trials hearings 307 417 425 402 263 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 30 66 66 69 19 
			  Judge/magistrates availability 3 1 2 2 — 
			 Plymouth Combined Court Trials hearings 121 157 193 215 215 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 13 8 20 23 17 
			  Judge/magistrates availability — — 1 — 1 
			 Portsmouth Combined Court Centre Trials hearings 320 368 394 364 363 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 26 63 63 69 48 
			  Judge/magistrates availability — 2 3 1 2 
			 Preston Combined Court + Preston Crown Court (Sessions House) Trials hearings 807 824 982 1,027 861 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 109 144 170 187 136 
			  Judge/magistrates availability — — 2 — — 
			 Reading Crown Court Trials hearings 520 578 895 668 570 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 80 94 201 129 95 
			  Judge/magistrates availability — 1 4 1 2 
			 St. Albans Crown Court Trials hearings 428 474 596 559 486 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 63 66 99 76 71 
			  Judge/magistrates availability — — — — 3 
			 Salisbury Law Courts Trials hearings 51 55 54 56 72 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 9 2 2 10 13 
			  Judge/magistrates availability — — — — — 
			 Sheffield Combined Court Centre Trials hearings 713 785 852 716 603 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 87 82 123 99 77 
			  Judge/magistrates availability 2 1 1 — 4 
			 Shrewsbury Crown Court Trials hearings 106 121 136 120 111 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 7 12 12 7 6 
			  Judge/magistrates availability — — — — — 
			 Snaresbrook Crown Court Trials hearings 1,599 1,680 1,879 1,762 1,554 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 242 260 284 311 262 
			  Judge/magistrates availability 7 3 2 8 2 
			 Southampton Combined Court Centre Trials hearings 354 371 453 375 382 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 34 54 56 57 54 
			  Judge/magistrates availability — 1 1 — 2 
			 Southwark Crown Court Trials hearings 799 856 981 949 672 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 91 85 116 110 108 
			  Judge/magistrates availability 1 — — — — 
			 Stafford Combined Court Centre Trials hearings 299 226 266 204 181 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 23 19 26 17 15 
			  Judge/magistrates availability — — 1 — — 
			 Stoke-on-Trent Combined Court Trials hearings 253 241 240 223 246 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 26 19 19 20 31 
			  Judge/magistrates availability 1 1 — 2 — 
			 Swansea Crown Court Trials hearings 295 277 236 286 238 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 22 28 9 17 23 
			  Judge/magistrates availability — 3 — — — 
		
	
	
		
			 Swindon Combined Court Trials hearings 149 157 181 134 111 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 12 13 16 10 12 
			  Judge/magistrates availability 2 — — — — 
			 Taunton Crown Court Trials hearings 148 138 164 165 143 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 27 23 39 35 23 
			  Judge/magistrates availability — — — — — 
			 Teesside Combined Court Centre Trials hearings 1,088 1,001 1,016 849 756 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 123 124 142 111 95 
			  Judge/magistrates availability — — — — — 
			 Truro Crown Court Trials hearings 136 146 150 218 191 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 12 12 21 38 32 
			  Judge/magistrates availability — — — 1 4 
			 Warwick Combined Court Trials hearings 171 189 191 189 296 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 12 18 21 21 36 
			  Judge/magistrates availability 1 2 2 — — 
			 Weymouth and Dorchester Combined Court Centre Trials hearings 57 69 72 64 85 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 5 3 3 6 6 
			  Judge/magistrates availability — — — — — 
			 Winchester Combined Court Centre Trials hearings 267 253 356 337 318 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 24 25 41 64 55 
			  Judge/magistrates availability — 1 1 2 4 
			 Wolverhampton Combined Court Centre Trials hearings 492 532 606 581 598 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 33 44 67 44 58 
			  Judge/magistrates availability 1 — — — 2 
			 Wood Green Crown Court Trials hearings 777 863 925 857 843 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 53 62 55 49 43 
			  Judge/magistrates availability — — — — — 
			 Woolwich Crown Court Trials hearings 611 675 975 997 1,176 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 58 77 202 222 149 
			  Judge/magistrates availability — — 3 5 — 
			 Worcester Combined Court Trials hearings 246 289 380 398 381 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 14 23 40 51 38 
			  Judge/magistrates availability 2 2 — — 1 
			 York Crown Court Trials hearings 271 320 329 364 312 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 37 45 62 87 53 
			  Judge/magistrates availability — — — 2 1 
			        
			 England and Wales Trials hearings 35,985 39,262 43,261 41,412 38,432 
			  Ineffective trial hearings 4,169 4,926 5,921 5,923 5,338 
			  Judge/magistrates availability 67 66 76 84 96 
			 ‘—’ = Nil (1) A trial that does not go ahead on the scheduled trial date due to action or inaction by one or more of the prosecution, the defence or the court and a further listing for trial is required. (2) Latest data available annual totals as published in Court Statistics Quarterly on 20th June 2013. (3) Coventry Crown court (from January 2012) is no longer a full time hearing venue, with cases heard at other venues, e.g. Warwick. Source: Criminal Court Statistics, Justice Statistics Analytical Services 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2: Average time from offence to completion in weeks(1), by Crown court, England and Wales, January 2011 to March 2013(2,3,4,5) 
			 Defendants and weeks 
			   2011 2012 2013 
			 Crown court Outcome Jan to Mar Apr to Jun Jul to Sep Oct to Dec Jan to Mar Apr to Jun Jul to Sep Oct to Dec Jan to Mar 
			 Aylesbury Crown Court Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 165 182 219 250 267 238 166 148 172 
		
	
	
		
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 46 42 40 38 49 45 46 41 34 
			 Basildon Combined Court + Southend Crown Court Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 474 443 459 408 404 419 371 347 411 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 47 41 42 48 46 41 40 40 38 
			 Birmingham Crown Court Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 739 681 897 864 715 749 742 770 839 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 48 44 45 38 43 44 42 38 45 
			 Blackfriars Crown Court Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 497 427 450 415 433 364 377 373 358 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 44 42 51 45 54 55 41 52 48 
			 Bolton Combined Court Centre Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 423 349 405 335 342 338 301 247 245 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 44 42 41 40 48 39 45 42 46 
			 Bournemouth Crown Court Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 204 142 177 131 127 127 125 109 105 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 56 48 45 44 49 48 63 41 45 
			 Bradford Combined Court Centre Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 641 632 608 633 530 474 491 442 480 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 49 51 50 46 44 45 48 43 47 
			 Bristol Crown Court Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 554 481 487 499 477 476 455 537 419 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 46 50 51 46 44 54 42 42 43 
		
	
	
		
			 Burnley Combined Court Centre Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 264 252 261 203 201 186 195 213 196 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 51 39 43 46 46 47 40 44 44 
			 Cambridge Crown Court Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 202 186 211 191 183 171 223 186 167 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 56 43 44 39 43 46 48 47 45 
			 Canterbury Combined Court Centre Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 268 241 279 237 239 246 217 211 256 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 49 51 39 42 55 47 50 46 43 
			 Cardiff Crown Court Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 747 683 595 687 590 566 639 645 646 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 39 38 39 40 41 44 42 34 42 
			 Carlisle Combined Court Centre Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 235 229 256 221 207 182 149 163 173 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 43 35 38 39 42 36 34 34 32 
			            
			 Central Criminal Court Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 272 248 294 241 215 205 231 241 217 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 56 56 63 66 62 62 61 62 51 
			 Chelmsford Crown Court Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 392 327 324 319 342 263 266 221 276 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 43 42 39 41 47 42 46 45 44 
			 Chester Crown Court Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 344 311 243 246 270 312 282 280 297 
		
	
	
		
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 45 35 37 41 48 42 42 44 41 
			 Chichester Combined Court Centre Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 102 92 125 66 95 82 64 71 70 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 50 47 53 56 52 49 47 55 53 
			 Coventry Combined Court Centre(6) Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 157 155 169 187 — — — — — 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 44 48 41 32 — — — — — 
			 Croydon Crown Court Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 421 424 409 433 433 426 413 447 428 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 52 45 56 51 45 54 46 41 40 
			 Derby Combined Court Centre Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 502 402 382 441 371 380 354 301 330 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 45 45 42 42 43 42 36 40 37 
			 Doncaster Crown Court(6) Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 239 165 185 176 142 183 175 58 6 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 45 47 37 37 43 31 34 48 29 
			 Durham Crown Court Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 234 200 239 229 190 210 190 198 185 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 34 34 34 36 41 40 34 38 38 
			 Exeter Combined Court Centre Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 239 226 192 174 140 182 176 159 154 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 46 50 41 55 55 58 57 47 59 
		
	
	
		
			 Gloucester Crown Court Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 168 144 162 151 152 149 140 158 154 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 51 39 45 42 44 41 44 50 48 
			 Great Grimsby Combined Court Centre Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 215 203 188 196 188 150 146 153 186 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 39 40 39 38 46 45 35 41 32 
			 Guildford Crown Court Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 264 282 278 272 239 254 289 235 242 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 49 46 49 46 48 42 47 42 48 
			 Harrow Crown Court Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 425 439 432 443 451 358 377 369 289 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 39 45 41 41 41 44 40 40 48 
			 Inner London Crown Court Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 532 436 516 567 482 421 426 372 311 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 58 53 47 34 41 45 43 50 52 
			 Ipswich Crown Court + Bury St Edmunds Crown Court Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 286 245 230 209 175 163 259 220 226 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 44 49 46 46 53 44 38 43 43 
			 Isle of Wight Combined Court Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 67 60 68 65 48 68 61 36 58 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 32 55 43 42 44 43 38 37 29 
			 Isleworth Crown Court Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 788 772 790 684 589 630 542 527 593 
		
	
	
		
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 40 40 40 37 42 39 41 38 37 
			 Kingston-upon-Hull Combined Court Centre Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 309 288 430 347 281 351 296 286 287 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 40 37 35 42 45 42 39 39 36 
			 Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 582 489 525 367 383 249 282 271 329 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 49 40 36 49 48 53 56 53 49 
			 Leeds Combined Court Centre Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 865 712 796 780 804 783 841 844 915 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 45 42 47 47 45 42 43 41 40 
			 Leicester Crown Court Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 443 443 407 409 365 396 400 367 333 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 49 49 54 51 51 51 43 54 53 
			 Lewes Combined Court Centre Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 537 429 455 395 367 395 385 302 371 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 48 45 46 42 47 45 43 48 42 
			 Lincoln Crown Court Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 186 170 173 183 160 213 197 223 181 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 55 50 48 44 53 55 47 55 55 
			 Liverpool Crown Court Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 1,162 881 873 908 820 862 937 839 801 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 48 41 42 44 47 48 45 45 42 
		
	
	
		
			 Luton Crown Court Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 322 255 285 237 262 240 240 205 196 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 42 53 51 44 44 46 57 48 53 
			 Maidstone Combined Court Centre Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 410 357 387 292 304 352 249 296 270 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 55 62 51 51 52 46 52 45 51 
			 Manchester Crown Court (Crown Square) Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 765 630 701 557 522 595 612 595 624 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 48 46 45 46 51 48 41 42 48 
			 Manchester Crown Court (Minshull St) Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 842 757 696 672 590 606 500 531 491 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 50 46 44 48 46 48 43 44 39 
			 Merthyr Tydfil Combined Court Centre Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 228 192 170 191 185 189 198 201 167 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 35 33 27 37 33 35 30 29 28 
			 Mold Crown Court + Welshpool Crown Court Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 214 329 232 232 245 264 279 235 171 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 41 37 39 39 44 40 42 44 42 
			 Newcastle-upon-Tyne Combined Court Centre Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 882 770 766 761 673 647 606 689 663 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 41 39 39 47 43 44 47 44 41 
			 Northampton Combined Court Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 288 283 285 343 248 273 256 282 262 
		
	
	
		
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 48 53 54 47 52 46 49 50 43 
			 Norwich Combined Court Centre + King's Lynn Crown Court Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 341 279 309 333 241 261 252 217 216 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 37 39 36 38 40 50 33 49 39 
			 Nottingham Crown Court Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 755 618 630 596 613 638 659 567 558 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 40 43 38 38 41 40 39 38 40 
			 Oxford Combined Court Centre Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 187 176 201 175 188 161 189 189 235 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 51 53 45 47 63 49 48 44 53 
			 Peterborough Combined Court Centre Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 270 263 264 259 233 154 163 193 163 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 41 37 41 41 39 37 37 39 44 
			 Plymouth Combined Court Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 182 159 160 116 146 140 132 161 101 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 46 52 52 54 52 62 48 57 51 
			 Portsmouth Combined Court Centre Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 249 205 230 183 193 196 208 191 153 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 57 50 47 48 50 55 47 46 44 
			 Preston Combined Court + Preston Crown Court (Sessions House) Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 881 827 787 776 765 758 688 662 650 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 41 42 41 42 45 43 44 40 42 
		
	
	
		
			 Reading Crown Court Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 297 305 284 275 294 239 242 286 234 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 53 49 57 50 48 50 51 48 51 
			 Salisbury Law Courts Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 43 24 29 23 23 28 46 33 31 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 43 75 46 67 87 66 79 78 46 
			 Sheffield Combined Court Centre Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 591 508 560 550 466 474 469 581 663 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 35 36 34 33 33 35 39 35 38 
			 Shrewsbury Crown Court Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 127 99 111 135 120 117 86 83 108 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 44 42 50 48 42 48 36 58 44 
			 Snaresbrook Crown Court Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 905 733 826 693 697 685 637 663 618 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 45 42 47 41 48 46 42 49 45 
			 Southampton Combined Court Centre Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 233 238 249 226 209 233 223 193 226 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 50 45 43 49 54 46 45 51 39 
			 Southwark Crown Court Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 496 448 415 431 409 346 296 323 305 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 68 64 64 55 53 71 60 59 60 
			 St. Albans Crown Court Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 322 298 354 291 280 309 292 333 304 
		
	
	
		
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 50 47 50 52 52 50 48 49 44 
			 Stafford Combined Court Centre Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 239 208 195 229 186 170 163 178 189 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 57 46 47 48 50 71 48 46 46 
			 Stoke-on-Trent Combined Court Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 228 201 197 217 213 214 197 214 157 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 45 41 43 40 60 57 41 41 34 
			 Swansea Crown Court Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 386 272 351 354 247 285 291 344 342 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 41 40 41 42 51 45 45 40 46 
			 Swindon Combined Court Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 94 107 133 112 91 99 99 95 106 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 47 42 41 55 40 46 53 68 45 
			 Taunton Crown Court Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 107 111 142 113 101 95 128 112 123 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 59 46 42 52 53 32 37 50 42 
			 Teesside Combined Court Centre Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 501 448 516 465 485 491 361 369 429 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 42 45 41 43 45 42 40 38 39 
			 Truro Crown Court Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 157 154 166 170 131 162 111 119 120 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 56 57 52 50 60 50 44 60 44 
		
	
	
		
			 Warwick Combined Court Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 236 153 208 175 198 250 236 265 282 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 42 49 42 57 48 46 58 43 45 
			 Weymouth and Dorchester Combined Court Centre Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 37 41 34 47 37 56 49 47 41 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 41 49 35 57 62 61 44 55 56 
			 Winchester Combined Court Centre Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 237 210 226 235 220 236 199 202 192 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 54 51 44 47 45 50 42 54 45 
			 Wolverhampton Combined Court Centre Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 595 499 555 454 478 417 497 460 480 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 45 43 45 37 48 43 41 41 42 
			 Wood Green Crown Court Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 492 434 524 572 476 462 510 493 434 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 39 36 34 28 42 41 37 46 43 
			 Woolwich Crown Court Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 318 375 388 544 531 506 520 457 411 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 45 39 37 38 44 42 38 41 43 
			 Worcester Combined Court + Hereford Crown Court Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 183 151 154 122 140 139 160 151 165 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 61 65 47 56 50 58 45 44 51 
			 York Crown Court Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 260 222 270 232 213 244 243 202 210 
		
	
	
		
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 43 50 48 41 43 41 41 46 46 
			            
			 England and Wales Defendants in linked dataset with cases completing in the quarter 29,044 25,810 27,179 25,950 24,216 24,120 23,625 23,012 22,796 
			  Average time from offence to overall completion (wks) 46 44 44 43 46 46 44 44 43 
			 ‘—’ = Nil (1) Completed cases are where a final decision has been reached—this includes both acquittals and sentences following guilty findings. (2) Excludes breaches and cases with an offence to completion time greater than 10 years. (3) Statistics are sourced from the CREST linked court data and included around 95% of completed cases. (4) Only one offence is counted for each defendant in the case. If two or more cases complete on the same day, the case with the longest duration is included. (5) Included all criminal cases which have received a verdict and concluded in the specified time period, in the Crown court. (6) Coventry (from January 2012) and Doncaster (from January 2013) Crown court centres are no longer full-time hearing venues, with cases heard at other venues, e.g. Warwick and Sheffield. Source: Criminal Court Statistics, Justice Statistics Analytical Services

Electronic Tagging

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the cost of the audit by PricewaterhouseCoopers into the electronic monitoring contracts held by G4S and Serco in England and Wales is expected to be.

Jeremy Wright: We do not yet have a figure for the total cost of auditing the electronic monitoring contracts, as audit work is still being carried out.

Electronic Tagging

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice on what date PricewaterhouseCoopers was commissioned to carry out the audit into the electronic monitoring contracts held by G4S and Serco in England and Wales.

Jeremy Wright: We commissioned Pricewaterhouse Coopers to carry out a detailed audit of the electronic-monitoring contracts held by both G4S and Serco in May 2013.

European Court of Human Rights

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate his Department has made of the cost to the public purse of implementing the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights since 1998.

Helen Grant: The measures taken to implement judgments, and the costs and benefits of such measures, can vary considerably depending on the circumstances of the case, and some can be included in wider changes to policy or legislation. Therefore, the provision of accurate estimates of the total costs associated with the implementation of the judgments of the ECtHR since 1998 is not possible.

Legal Aid Scheme

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the financial and administrative cost on legal businesses of the requirement proposed in his Department's consultation, Transforming Legal Aid, to assess whether EEA nationals have enjoyed a right to reside in the UK for 12 months; and what estimate he has made of the average number of hours per EEA national client it will take a legal aid contractor to assess whether EEA nationals have enjoyed a right to reside in the UK for 12 months.

Jeremy Wright: As part of our consultation “Transforming Legal aid: delivering a more credible and efficient system” we published an impact assessment which is available at
	https://consult.justice.gov.uk/digital-communications/transforming-legal-aid
	The impact assessment provides that there may be one-off familiarisation costs for providers associated with the introduction of the proposed residency test. Providers may also face increased costs in assessing whether or a not a case qualifies for legal aid and in retaining evidence on file for audit purposes.
	We are currently analysing responses and will ensure that we have fully assessed any risks or impacts our proposals may have before making a decision.

Michael Turner

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many times he has met Michael Turner, Head of the Criminal Bar Association, in the last year;
	(2)  what recent discussions he has had with Michael Turner regarding the Government's proposals for criminal legal aid.

Jeremy Wright: The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, my right hon. Friend the Member for Epsom and Ewell (Chris Grayling), has met regularly with the legal profession to discuss the Transforming Legal Aid proposals. This includes meetings with the Law Society, Bar Council, Circuit Leaders and roundtable meetings with Law Society members.
	The Secretary of State for Justice has not met Michael Turner QC. However, Lord McNally, lead Minister for legal aid at the MOJ met Mr Turner on 30 May 2013.
	The Department publishes quarterly meetings between Ministers and all external organisations. Quarters from March 2013 will be published in due course. This can be found at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications ?departments%5B%5D=ministry-of-justice&publication_type=transparency-data

Prisons

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the prison performance rating was for HM Prison (a) Blundeston, (b) Dorchester, (c) Northallerton and (d) Reading in the latest period for which figures are available.

Jeremy Wright: The annual prison performance ratings for 2012-13 were published by the Ministry of Justice on 25 July 2013 at the following location:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/225226/prison-annual-per-ratings-12-13.pdf

Prisons: Drugs

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many (a) passive and (b) active drug dogs there were at each prison establishment in England and Wales in each of the last four years; and if he will make a statement.

Jeremy Wright: Drug misuse in prisons, as measured by Mandatory Drug Testing (MDT), has continued on a downward trend. In 2011-12, 1% of prisoners tested positive for drug misuse, compared to 24.4% in 1996-97.
	The total number of passive and active drug detection dogs in prison establishments in England and Wales in each of the last four years is given in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of passive drug dogs Number of active drug dogs 
			 2010 225 226 
			 2011 201 203 
			 2012 171 173 
			 2013 159 158 
		
	
	Data has not been provided on an individual prison basis for security reasons. Placing such information on the public record would expose to those who may wish to smuggle drugs into prisons the extent of each prison's specific drug dog capability.
	Prisons deploy a range of robust security measures to reduce drug supply—including passive and active search dogs, 'closed' visits (ie through a glass screen) or visit bans, CCTV surveillance in most social visits areas and low-level furniture in social visits areas in all category C prisons and above, to make it more difficult to pass drugs; deployment of technology to detect and disrupt mobile phones, and analysis of recovered handsets and SIM cards; and a comprehensive programme of mandatory drug testing for prisoners with disciplinary sanctions for those testing positive. Criminal proceedings are invoked against visitors and prisoners alike wherever sufficient evidence exists of an attempt to supply.
	The reduction in numbers of dogs across the prison estate is largely due to efficiency savings and also the formation of area based specialist search teams to make resources more flexible. Area based search teams provide a level of dog searching depending on risk and level of threat by way of a service level agreement.
	All figures have been drawn from live administrative data systems which may be amended at any time. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system.

Prisons: Drugs

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the pilot study of drug-free prison wings; and when he intends to publish the outcome of that project.

Jeremy Wright: The Government is committed to increasing the number of drug free wings in prisons, where increased security measures prevent access to drugs.
	Evaluation of the pilot of these wings will begin once the pilot concludes at the end of September. I expect the evaluation to be completed by the end of March 2014.
	I will consider whether and how to publish the evaluation carefully. It may be that publication of the evaluation, containing details of measures that are effective in reducing drug availability in prisons, could compromise the effectiveness of those measures if they are placed into the public domain.

Property

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what progress his Department has made in reducing its central London estate;
	(2)  what progress his Department has made in its plans to relocate 1000 posts out of London by 2015.

Helen Grant: Since April 2010, we have reduced the central London administrative estate from 18 to seven buildings with a target of having just two core buildings by 2015. Across the whole MOJ estate, we have already reduced the number of properties from 185 to 111. This has resulted in savings of about £41 million per annum with a target reduction of £47 million per annum by 2015.
	Around 500 Posts from the Office of the Public Guardian have relocated from London to Birmingham. The Office of the Public Guardian is an executive agency of the Ministry of Justice. As part of its Estate Transformation Programme, the MOJ is promoting flexible workspace in its central London estate with a 70% desking ratio (seven desks to 10 full time equivalent employees).

Salvation Army

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will list by (a) region and (b) month the (i) nationality, (ii) gender and (iii) age of each suspected victim of trafficking referred by the Gangmaster's Licensing Authority to the Trafficking Victim support Scheme operated by the Salvation Army since June 2010.

Helen Grant: The Salvation Army has administered the Government-funded support service for adult victims of human trafficking in England and Wales since 1 July 2011. Details on the referrals received from the Gangmasters Licensing Authority by the Salvation Army are provided as follows.
	
		
			 Region Month Male (age) Nationality Female (age) Nationality 
			 East June 2013 26 Lithuanian 34 Lithuanian 
			       
			 North West January 2013 34 Polish 29 Polish 
			   54 Polish   
			       
			 South East May 2012 21 Polish 23 Polish 
			   22 Polish 40 Polish 
			   22 Polish   
			   23 Polish   
			   34 Polish   
			       
			  August 2012 20 Lithuanian   
			   24 Lithuanian   
			   28 Lithuanian   
			   33 Lithuanian   
			   39 Lithuanian   
			   49 Lithuanian   
			   57 Lithuanian   
			       
			  August 2013 39 Lithuanian   
			   55 Lithuanian   
			       
			 Wales June 2012 21 Polish 38 Polish 
			   25 Polish   
			   38 Polish   
			       
			 West Midlands October 2012 39 Polish   
			   24 Slovakian   
			   26 Slovakian   
			       
			  February 2013 21 Polish 23 Polish 
			   26 Polish 34 Polish 
			   29 Polish 47 Polish 
			   41 Polish   
			   44 Polish   
			   46 Polish   
			   46 Polish   
			   46 Polish   
			   55 Polish   
			       
			  April 2013 43 Polish   
			   56 Polish   
			   60 Polish

Staff

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many posts in his Department have been relocated from London to each other region in each of the last 10 years.

Helen Grant: The Ministry of Justice is committed to reducing costs and to exacting the greatest possible value from its resources. As part of the Estate Transformation Programme, the Ministry continues to promote flexible workspace in its central London estate with a 70% desking ratio (seven desks to 10 full time equivalent employees).
	Information about the total number of posts relocated from London to each region is not recorded centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, I can inform the hon. Member that since April 2010, around 500 posts from the Office of the Public Guardian, an executive agency of the Ministry, have relocated from London to Birmingham.